Right to Recall Proposal Debated in Parliament

MP Pushes for “Right to Recall” in India

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party’s Raghav Chadha has proposed implementing a “Right to Recall” mechanism in India, allowing voters to remove non-performing elected officials before their term expires.

• Core Idea: Empowers voters to dismiss representatives mid-term if dissatisfied.
• Justification: Chadha argues that a five-year term allows underperformance without consequence, citing over 24 countries with similar systems.
• Process: Requires a recall petition backed by 35-40% of voters, followed by an electronic vote needing 50% approval for removal, permissible after 18 months in office.
• Current Status: Exists for local bodies in some Indian states but not for MPs or MLAs.

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