Should there be an upper age limit for politician
Saturday, January 31, 2009
India is an astoundingly young country with around 54% of its population under the age of 25 and around 69% under the age of 35. Still for a country so young it is strangled in a strange dichotomy and that is that average of the current parliament is 52.7 while the previous parliament was even worse with average age of a MP being 55.5
So the question whether there should be an upper age limit for politician in India is really pertinent.
Lets objectively analyse the topic.
Points in favour of enacting such a law are
- There is an upper age limit for most jobs. Even a government clerk retires at the age of 60 then why shouldn't people who have the duty to run country have an upper age limit.
- With age, efficiency of people decrease and so they become incapable of performing their duty with the same degree of proficiency as any 25 or a 35 year old would. This is the reason why people retire. Politicians aren't immune to the law of ages, so why aren't they required to retire.
- Old people are susceptible to medical problem. An example of this is our former PM AB Vajpayee getting his knee replaced and our current PM having a bypass surgery. During such a time country is virtually stalled as no major decision can be taken. This scenario can be avoided if we have an upper age limit.
- We need to distinguish between an executive and legislative. Experience and wisdom of people can be used while formulating policies and enacting laws but when it comes to execute them we need younger people. Thus age-limit should definitely be put in place for ministers.
- Politician is and should not be a career. It is more like social service. If we enact such a law we are literally blocking the entry of people who aren't fortunate enough to be born with a silver spoon into the public arena.
- Politicians are not apointed, they are elected every 5 years. If the nation feels that they are unfit they should not be voted in. This is one reason why no such law exist anywhere in the world.
Labels:
