CONTEXT

Steady undermining of institutional and knowledge structures  are posing a threat to the world and in India. In this election year in India, there is  need to keep a sharper eye on the weakening of institutions.

Examples Around the world

• Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan are constantly projected as the faces of authoritarianism.

• Many democratic leaders reveal a similar authoritarian streak, which adds to democracy’s woes.

• International institutions such as the World Bank are facing the heat today for not conforming to the prescriptions of certain powerful members.

• Brexit, and the Brexit debate, in the U.K. and Europe are enough examples of democracy going awry.

• The U.S., which prides itself as a leading democracy is failing. Under President Donald Trump, arbitrary decision-making has replaced informed debate.

• The decision of the U.S. to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, determination to build a wall to keep out Mexican immigrants, even risking an extended shutdown of the U.S. government are someof indication of erosion of democracy.

Situation in India

In a pluralistic, multi-party federal system, disdain for democratic conventions and the violation of well-entrenched behavioural patterns are causing irreversible damage to the polity.

Instances of the decline of democratic convention

• Centre-State relations are already under strain, and face the threat of still greater disruption.

• There have been  unhealthy exchanges between the Prime Minister and some Chief Ministers which involve accusations such as fomenting riots and running extortion rackets.

• Those in authority deem all information not acceptable to them as nothing but disinformation. Those opposed to the government, on the other hand, insist that the government suffers from a lack of probity.

• The current  exchanges between the ruling dispensation and the Opposition over the purchase of Rafale aircraft are an example.

• The Central government has effectively rejected a report by the well-regarded National Sample Survey Office — which showed that unemployment in 2017-18 was at a 45-year high — without giving any valid reason for doing so.

• doubts are being raised about the validity of the government’s revised GDP estimates.

• With regards to Reserve Bank of India (RBI), there has been perceived attempt to reduce its functional independence, to compel it to fall in line with the views of the government.

• The Interim Budget announced on the eve of the 2019 general election clearly breaches certain long-settled conventions, by including many substantial measures that ordinarily would form part of a regular Budget.

Virtual Collapse of CBI

• Touted as India’s premier investigation agency, its reputation has of late suffered a near mortal blow, mainly on account of internecine quarrels, as also external interference in its internal affairs.

• Created out of the Delhi Special Police Establishment in 1963, the agency was earlier headed by persons with impeccable integrity and ability.

• Over time, the quality of the CBI leadership and the tribe of proven investigators has witnessed a decline, which has impacted the image of the organisation.

• The choice of Director, following the Vineet Narain case, by a committee headed by the Prime Minister, with the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of Opposition as the other members, has hardly helped the CBI maintain a reputation for independence.

• The recent  drama between the Director and his No. 2, reflects the lack of institutional culture in the organisation.

• Supervisory officers, who come and go, are most often not in a position to provide proper guidance to investigating officers.

Change in the work culture of CBI

• Earlier the CBI used to carry out arrests of so-called accused persons only as a measure of last resort.

• Iits investigating officers’ skills have declined, it is increasingly resorting to peremptory arrests, often on very slender evidence.

• In many instances, the CBI has also been resorting to pressure tactics while questioning individuals,

• CBI has even resorted to intimidatory tactics, taking recourse to a battery of investigators to question a witness, let alone an accused.

• The recent incident where a battery of CBI personnel went to question the Kolkata Police Commissioner at his residence late in the evening, though he was only a witness, reflects the changing course of the CBI.

Conclusion

Across the world and in india, democracy is in obvious retreat, with authoritarian tendencies on the ascendant.This should be a matter of concern for one and all.