6.4.1. Principle of Collective Responsibility

The Parliamentary form of government is based on the principle of Collective Responsibility. Article 75(3) of the Constitution states that the Council of Ministers (CoM) is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, not to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). It means that all the Ministers are collectively answerable to the Lok Sabha for the policies and decisions of the government, even though a decision taken may pertain to a single ministry.

The individual ministers may have differences among themselves on certain issues, but once a decision is taken by the Cabinet it becomes a joint decision of all the Ministers. It is the duty of every minister to stand by cabinet decisions and support them both within and outside the Parliament. If a minister does not agree with the decision of the cabinet he has no choice, but to resign. Thus, the Council of Ministers works as a team. It swims or sinks together.

Thus, if the Lok Sabha passes a no-confidence motion against the Council of Ministers, all the ministers have to resign, including ministers from the Rajya Sabha. Alternatively, the CoM can advice the President to dissolve the Lok Sabha on the ground that the House does not represent the views of the electorate faithfully and call for fresh elections.