Parliament takes pride in asserting the supremacy of the institution, at times even ignoring what it perceives as judicial meddling in its functioning. Sadly, in a graphic portrayal of falling standards, some members have arrogated unto themselves that “supremacy” ~ deeming themselves unaccountable to mere “commoners”. What is downright pitiable is that they refuse to “learn”; the message sought to be conveyed by the order dismantling red beacons from VIPs’ vehicles has had little effect. Even the furore months back over an MP “slippering” an Air India staffer has not driven home a sense of shame ~ as proven by a somewhat similar recent incident in Visakhapatnam. It mattered little to the Lok Sabha member from the Telegu Desam Party that his political “bench-mate” and civil aviation minister was present in the terminal at the time, maybe that actually encouraged him to throw not just his weight around but also damage some equipment of the private airline that had sought to deny him passage on a flight for turning up after the counter had been closed. If anyone had learnt a lesson it was the minister.

A few months back he had come out strongly against the Shiv Sena MP who wielded the slipper, but having subsequently been pressured into getting Air India to waive its ban on flying that particular “honourable member”, Mr Ashok Gajapati Raju, this time around opted to keep his lips “zipped”. IndiGo finally accommodated the MP on the flight he had delayed, and the trackrecord would suggest that the subsequent ban imposed on the MP would not “stick” ~ despite the national carrier, Air India, having endorsed the “disciplinary action.” SpiceJet and Jet Airways did likewise.

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The ministry of civil aviation has formulated proposed regulations to crack down on misbehaving passengers ~ a separate section for uncouth MPs needs to included in the formulation. Not just bad behaviour, the “relaxation” they enjoy in “reporting late” must be withdrawn ~ it violates the spirit of the order banning red beacons. All are, supposedly, equal before the law, and had the Shiv Sena MP been made to pay (not bailed out by other MPs) the more recent incident might have been averted: there has to be an end to un-codified “privileges” being misused to “get away with murder”. Each House of Parliament has its own Ethics Committee, punishing disgraceful conduct must be included in their jurisdiction because “corruption” is not the only unethical action in which MPs indulge.

It is a pity that the Speaker does not exercise her moral and punitive authority. She is the “custodian” of more than what is spelled out in the Rule Book, preserving the dignity of Parliament is part of her task. Mrs Sumitra Mahajan must not duck the responsibility for ensuring that the “supremacy” of Parliament is not abused.