Constitutional Accountability of the Council of Ministers in India: Bridging the Structural Gap through Judicial Interpretation and Corporate Governance Principles

The Indian Constitution establishes collective and individual ministerial responsibility as cornerstones of executive accountability. Yet, decades of constitutional practice reveal a persistent structural gap: the Council of Ministers frequently operates without meaningful parliamentary oversight, judicial scrutiny, or enforceable accountability norms. This paper critically examines the constitutional provisions governing ministerial responsibility under Articles 74, 75, 78, and 164; analyses landmark judicial pronouncements that have shaped—and in some instances narrowed—the contours of ministerial accountability; and interrogates the practical effectiveness of the doctrine of collective responsibility. Drawing comparative insights from the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and applying normative principles derived from corporate governance frameworks, this paper argues that existing constitutional mechanisms are structurally insufficient and proposes targeted reforms to reinvigorate parliamentary democracy in India.