It is most mind-boggling and most disheartening to note that for becoming an MP or MLA, there is just no entrance exam nor is there any minimum educational qualification. For becoming even a peon or a constable, there are minimum educational qualifications and the unemployment scenario is so high in our country these days that even those who have PhD, MBA or other similar high educational qualification are filling up form for becoming a peon or a constable. But if someone wants to become an MP or MLA who make all laws in our country, there is just no minimum educational qualification! This is most disgusting and just unacceptable!
Why even after 70 years of independence are politicians determined that they can’t change what Jawaharlal Nehru as first Prime Minister inserted in our law books? When so many other changes have been made in last 70 years then why can’t amendment be made in this direction also? It is akin to saying that not a single bench can be created in whole of UP as there was only one bench of high court when India became independent and that too just 150-200 km away from Allahabad at Lucknow! Then why so many benches have been created in other states? Why two more benches were created in 2008 for just 4 and 8 districts for Karnataka where there are less than 2 lakh cases pending and for UP where there are more than ten lakh pending cases not a single more bench has been created till date? It is most shocking to learn that UP has maximum 80 seats for MPs and 403 seats for Assembly, has 200 posts for Judges in High Court, has more than one lakh villages, has maximum district, maximum crime rate, maximum human rights violations, maximum cases of riots, loot, arson, murder etc yet it has least benches and West UP which owes for more than half of pending cases and has more than 9 crore population has not even a single bench even though Justice Jaswant Singh Commission recommended 3 benches for West UP way back in 1970s even though on its recommendations benches were created at Aurangabad in Maharashtra, Madurai in Tamil Nadu and Jalpaiguri in West Bengal! Why Bihar which is another lawless state has not even a single bench of high court?
Anyway, coming back to the main subject, it is most shameful to see our MLAs and some MPs behaving like hooligans and that too live on various news channels. Why can’t there be strict and tough entrance exam for becoming an MP or MLA? Will the quality of our governance not improve if those who contest for elections are first able to clear a qualifying exam and have at least a bachelor’s degree in any subject? Just recently Supreme Court had ordered that those contesting for municipal elections must have graduation as minimum educational qualifications. Why can’t the same criteria be applied for MPs and MLAs also because their office is far more superior and commands more authority and therefore should have more responsibility on its shoulders.
I very strongly feel that introduction of an entrance exam would ensure that only learned persons would become MP or MLA and not any criminal or mafia who has no knowledge of law or any other good thing but only knows how to break law and make a mockery of law. It is most hurting and disconcerting to see that no sincere effort has ever been made in this direction by any government till now. But now the ice has to be broken and this must be done at the earliest.
It is a no brainer that tough examinations will ensure that better qualified and better prepared person enter the hallowed portals of becoming an MP or MLA who would understand fully the huge responsibility that they would have to shoulder in the coming days. The topics that should be covered must include Indian history, local issues, Indian Constitution, national issues, state level issues and international issues. This will make sure that quality candidates enter Parliament and not illiterate who feel proud to bullshit and scold senior IAS, IPS and other officers who become officer after years of hard work and facing grueling exams – first Prelims, then Mains and finally interview.
Why should there not be even a single entrance exam for becoming an MP or MLA? Why can’t MP and MLA face a gruelling exam, clear it and then become eligible for becoming an MP or MLA? Our law makers who are MPs and MLAs themselves must give it a food of thought and take the appropriate decision keeping in mind our paramount national interests. There should be no leniency on this.
Evaluation of papers should be in the hands of learned senior Vice- Chancellors but their name should be kept secret so that nobody is able to influence them in any manner. Candidates should be given the liberty to answer papers in exam in their mother language if they don’t know English or Hindi but they must be told that they would have to learn English and Hindu within one year of their being elected as both of them are used widely in our country. Their should be only four to six attempts permissible as we see in various judicial services exam and civil services exam. Minimum pass marks must be 60% overall and 50 percent in each subject.
All said and done, this will make sure that only learned persons who are serious contenders would become MP and MLA. It will enhance India’s global image as the quality of debate that we see and hear in various State Assemblies and Parliament would certainly elevate and what better news can there be than this for our great nation? It is sad to see that all political parties talk, talk and talk on this but do nothing to change the ground reality!
They must now take the lead and do the needful in this direction that will not only restore but also enhance people’s faith and confidence in their abilities to solve so many problems and nitty – gritties affecting them on a regular basis. This brooks no delay! Political parties too will then be compelled to recruit meritorious candidates and not illiterate candidates just because they have man power, muscle power and money power! They simply will be left with no other option and what better news can there be for our nation other than this?
We all know how recently 2 senior police officers committed suicide as they were being unduly harassed by some politicians of ruling party in Karnataka. Why should any one be allowed to become an MP or MLA just because he/she has money power, muscle power and man power but don’t possess even the basic educational qualification? Why should there not be basic minimum educational qualification for MP and MA when Supreme Court desires graduate level qualification even for those far below level of panchayat or municipal level post?
Why should there not be entrance exam for those who make all laws and regulations in our country? Why should they be exempted from all this? Why should criminals be allowed to become MP and MLAs without facing any qualifying exam? No more free passes for Assemblies and Parliament any longer! Things must change now right now! MPs and MLAs enjoy so much of clout and power and what not. Why should they not face competitive exam just like we see in the case of other jobs? Why should they be exempted alone?
The writer is an Advocate.