A critical democratic tool designed to hold the government accountable is facing severe neglect in Karnataka. The Question Hour, a dedicated time during legislative sessions where elected representatives grill ministers on public spending, welfare schemes, and project delays, is decaying, with nearly 2,000 questions left unanswered over the past two-and-a-half years.
A Mounting Backlog of Public Concerns
The alarming scale of the issue was revealed through a Right to Information (RTI) reply to Belagavi resident Giridhar Kulkarni. The legislative secretariat's disclosure showed that several government departments are sitting on close to 100 unanswered queries each. The pending questions cover vital areas of public interest, including the implementation of welfare schemes, stalled infrastructure projects, departmental functioning, and detailed accounts of how taxpayer money has been utilized.
Legislators from both the ruling party and the opposition have voiced their frustration. S Suresh Kumar, a BJP MLA from Bengaluru, stated he is still awaiting replies to a set of questions. "The government said it will provide answers to my questions on December 12 but to date, there is no sign of it," he said, adding that some questions from previous sessions also remain unanswered.
Echoing this, SL Bhojegowda, a JD(S) MLC, highlighted a recurring pattern. "In every session, we demand an explanation, and ministers assure us that they will directly send us answers. But it never reaches us," he lamented.
Government's Defense and Promised Action
The government has defended the delays, citing procedural hurdles, non-availability of data, and pending verifications. However, senior legislative figures have issued stern warnings. Legislative Council Chairperson Basavaraj Horatti emphasized that replying to queries is a "fundamental duty" of the government and confirmed he has repeatedly urged the leader of the house to ensure officials provide answers.
Assembly Speaker UT Khader warned that inconsistent replies and non-cooperation from departments could cripple legislative oversight. "If this continues, no MLA will ask questions," he cautioned. In response, he announced the formation of a committee chaired by Deputy Speaker Rudrappa M Lamani to address the issue. MLAs who do not receive answers can now complain directly to this committee, which will summon officials to seek explanations.
Ministers have acknowledged the problem and promised corrective measures. Council Leader and Minor Irrigation Minister NS Boseraju claimed the House had "inherited" a massive backlog. He stated that out of 1,423 pending questions in the council, answers to 1,299 had been recently submitted, with the rest to be addressed soon.
Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the issue was discussed in a recent cabinet meeting, and the Chief Minister had personally instructed the Chief Secretary to clear the backlog. "We will soon table answers to all pending questions," Gowda assured.
Departments with the Biggest Backlogs
The RTI data pinpointed the departments struggling with the highest number of unanswered questions, highlighting where legislative scrutiny is being blocked most:
- Finance Department: 77 unanswered questions
- Municipal Administration Department: 77 unanswered questions
- Urban Development Department: 75 unanswered questions
- Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department: 50 unanswered questions
This systemic failure of the Question Hour mechanism strikes at the heart of democratic accountability. When elected representatives cannot get answers on public spending and governance, the vital link of transparency between the government and the citizens it serves is broken. The newly formed committee's effectiveness in breaking this cycle of neglect will be a key test for Karnataka's legislative health.
