RTR was endorsed by Lenin in November 1917 for the Soviet system. Switzerland is considered a pioneer in this field, but seldom uses this instrument. Eighteen US states have provisions for the recall of elected representatives. However, the provision has been used rather infrequently. Some Canadian provinces have provisions for the recall of representatives. Even a premier can be removed from office. In order to check defections, Guyana has given parties the right to recall any of their elected members. Sweden, New Zealand, Zambia and Germany are other countries that are considering the introduction of RTR to enforce political accountability and check political corruption.

All over the world, representative democracy assumes responsibility/ accountability as an elemental founding principle. Elected representatives get the right to represent people for a period, during which they are expected to be accountable to their electors and constituencies, as also to the constitution and political institutions. While in certain cases impeachment is the constitutional instrument, exercised indirectly, to check personal and political malfeasance, RTR is a direct exercise of popular sovereignty against political irresponsibility. Despite the fact that the exercise of the right to impeach involves the electoral process on a much smaller scale, it is not a very commonly exercised instrument. RTR involves a full election process in a constituency to de-elect an elected representative. The process also means that, within a period, an alternative representative will have to be elected, which doubles the cost in terms of time and money to the democratic process. Further, without electoral and political reforms, this would be an attempt to cleanse the system with an ineffective detergent.

... contd.