Raghav Chadha raised the issue of the ‘Right to Recall’ in Parliament. Know in which countries this system is in place?

New Delhi. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha made headlines on Wednesday by discussing the ‘Right to Recall’ in Parliament. He said that if elected leaders do not perform up to public expectations, voters should have the right to remove them before the completion of their term.

In his address during Zero Hour, Chadha said, “Just as voters have the right to vote, they should also have the right to remove their representatives if they do not perform. The ‘Right to Recall’ will strengthen democracy and hold leaders accountable.”

What is the Right to Recall?
Raghav Chadha explained on social media that the Right to Recall is a process that gives voters the right to remove an elected representative from office before their term ends. Simply put, if voters are dissatisfied with their leader’s performance, they can initiate the process to remove them.

The President and Judges can be removed, why not politicians?
Chadha argued that India already has a system of impeachment for the President, Vice President, and judges, and a no-confidence motion can be introduced against governments. Therefore, elected leaders should also have this right.

Measures to prevent misuse
The MP clarified that the Right to Recall is only a tool to strengthen democracy, not a weapon against any leader. He suggested certain conditions to prevent its misuse:

Signatures of approximately 35–40% of voters should be required to remove a representative.

Leaders should be given an 18-month ‘performance period’ to improve. can do this.
If this happens, parties will also give tickets only to capable and hardworking leaders.

In which countries is this system in place?
Chadha said that the right to recall is in place in more than 20 democratic countries around the world, including the United States, Switzerland, and Canada. In India, this provision also exists in the Gram Panchayats of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. Furthermore, this right allows voters to hold their governments accountable in the United States, Britain, Switzerland, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Japan, Taiwan, and Canada.