No Serious Debates in Parliament, Bills Passed on Majority Strength: Former Odisha HC Chief Justice Subasish Talapatra at Agartala Pensioners Meet
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, August 25, 2025
Former Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court, Justice Subasish Talapatra, expressed deep concern over the declining quality of parliamentary functioning in India, stating that there are no serious debates in Parliament these days. Speaking at a state convention of the Forum of Civil Pensioners Association in Agartala on Sunday, Justice Talapatra said that ruling parties are pushing through bills merely on the strength of their majority, without meaningful discussion.
He categorically said that the Parliament of India has almost lost its effectiveness. There are hardly any constructive discussions taking place. One after another, anti-people bills are being passed with the sheer force of numerical majority, and the common people are bearing the consequence, Justice Talapatra remarked.
Addressing the gathering, Justice Talapatra strongly criticized the government’s economic policies, calling for united resistance against what he termed neo-liberal economic reforms that threaten pension rights. He said, We must fight against the neo-liberal economic policies which are trying to snatch away the guaranteed pension system.
Referring to the pension system introduced in 1972, he alleged that the government is attempting to dismantle it through the National Pension Scheme (NPS), under which employees contributions are linked to the share market. From 2018, Tripura had not implemented this scheme, while Kerala, Rajasthan, and Karnataka also refused to do so. In retaliation, the Centre has continued to financially deprive these states, he added.
Justice Talapatra highlighted the alarming gap between inflation and pension revision, noting that while the Consumer Price Index stood at 100 in 1982, it rose to 211.2 in 2023 and further to 351 in 2024. Despite this steep rise, pensions have not been revised in proportion. If citizens cannot protect their pension rights, these neo-liberal policies will bring bigger crises before us. Therefore, the fight for pension rights must be part of the struggle against these economic policies, he stressed.
The convention, organized at Tripura Students Health Home, was held in opposition to the Validation Act 2025. It was presided over by Nirnayasindhu De, while Dr. Bhupal Sinha, in his welcome address, elaborated on the risks posed by proposed changes in pension laws.
Other dignitaries present included Bimal Chandra Pal, Supriya Sengupta, and Bhupal Chandra Sinha. Representatives of various pensioners associations also spoke, including Tirthankar Choudhury (BSNL-DOT), Gouranga Sarkar (Customs), Pranab Roy (Income Tax), Chunilal Debnath and Anindita Dhar (AG Office), and Manik Dhar (Tripura Pensioners’ University Association). The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Nirnayasindhu De on behalf of the presidium.
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