Q. Comment on ‘India is a liberal democratic state’. [BPSC-2001]
Ans:A liberal democracy is a liberal political ideology and a form of government in which representative democracy is characterised by elections between multiple distinct political parties, a separation of powers and a system of checks and balances between different branches of government, the rule of law in everyday life as part of an open society, a market economy with private property, and the equal protection of human rights, civil rights, civil liberties and political freedoms for all people.
To define the system in practice, liberal democracies often draw upon a constitution, either codified, (such as in the United States of America), or uncodified, (such as in the United Kingdom) to delineate the powers of government and enshrine the social contract. After a period of sustained expansion throughout the 20th century, liberal democracy became the predominant political system in the world.
India has a strong modern liberal tradition since the 19th century that emphasised rights, the separation of powers, a free press and rule of law, among other features. Figures like Dadabhai Naoroji and Rammohan Roy were liberal progressives who fought for constitutional restraints on the British East Indian Company, advocated for a republican spirit and local representation, and believed in the value of free press to discover abuses of authority and power.
The liberal democracy in India has emerged in the context of anti-colonial nationalism.
India as a liberal democratic state:
- Preamble of the constitution envisaged to establish secular, socialist, democratic and republic state. It also sought to secure to all its citizens justice (social, political and economic), Liberty ( of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship), Equality of status and of opportunity and to promote Fraternity among all.
- Existence of fundamental rights in the constitution.
- Mention some of fundamental rights.
- Existence of Multi-party system.
- Truly independent judiciary as ultimate defender of liberal values embodied in the Constitution.
- DPSPs sought to establish as welfare state.
- A powerful and impartial election commission known for its credential for conducting free and fair election.
- Hillary Clinton once called India election system as a ‘golden stadard’.
- The legislations like RTI has increased the access to information for the citizens.
- Practices like citizen charter, social auditing, 360 degree appraisal has also empowered citizens to claim services with dignity.
- Flourishing civil societies, free media etc.
Opposite view:
- The right to property as fundamental right is abolished. It is only a legal and constitutional right.
- Seperation of power is not strictly followed in India. As their is overlapping between Executive and legislature.
- Further the phenomena of Judicial activism also undermine the principle of seperation of power.
- Some people has pointed that the manner in which the government revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and stripped it of its statehood.
- the forced silencing of dissent.
- Similarly the National Register of Citizens left 19 lakh people in Assam virtually stateless.
- Foreigner’s Tribunals said to be not meeting the minimum standards for being treated as a quasi-judicial authority.
- Various crucial bills were passed with hardly any deliberation or having them vetted through standing committees and select committees as is general practice.
- Amending citizenship law left some section of people discontented.
- The members of parliament is not free exercise their conscience and have to follow the party directive. The party with majority can get any law passed.
- The politicization of media.
- Some people questions the crack down on various civil societies to check the corrupt activity as a threat to civil societies.
- Various issues exists with the election system. e.g. structural problems with election commission, use of money and muscle power during election, castization of politics etc.
Liberalism is an essential quality in a democracy because it is meant to protect the excluded. It is a humanitarian ethic that treats everyone equally, guaranteeing basic respect and dignity – without exception. It carries an unsentimental insistence on rights. The full virtues of a democracy can be enjoyed only when it acts in conjunction with the virtues of liberalism. It is the liberal values that guarantee the universality of certain basic rights, fundamental freedoms and human dignity, regardless of popular opinion. While we can’t claim that we have completely realized the ideals of liberal democracy. But with our constitution as a guiding light we are surely moving in this direction.
