Previous Year Question
Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The Council of Ministers in India is collectively responsible to both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Reason (R): Members of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are eligible to become Ministers in Union Government.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(A) is true, but (R) is false.
(A) is false, but (R) is true.
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Assertion (A) is incorrect. Article 75(3) of the Constitution expressly provides that the Union Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the House of the People, i.e. the Lok Sabha. The Constitution does not make the Council of Ministers collectively responsible to the Rajya Sabha.
In practical terms, the Union Government must retain the confidence of the Lok Sabha to remain in office. If it loses the confidence of the Lok Sabha, the constitutional basis for continuance of the Council of Ministers comes to an end.
Reason (R) is correct. A Minister need not necessarily belong to the Lok Sabha. Article 75(5) makes it clear that a Minister may be a member of either House of Parliament; if a person is not a member of either House when appointed, that person must become a member of either House within six consecutive months or cease to be a Minister.
Therefore, a member of the Rajya Sabha may also become the Prime Minister or another Union Minister. However, eligibility to become a Minister and the collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers are two distinct constitutional matters.