Speakers debate if MPs, MLAs can be suspended for entering well of House
Speakers from states like Uttrakhand and Telangana came out in support of the suggestio. Others said a system could be evolved through discussion.
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Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Speakers of state Assemblies pose for a photo during inauguration of the conference of presiding officers of legislative bodies, at UP Vidhan Sabha in Lucknow on Saturday. (Source: Express Photo by Vishal Srivastav)With increasing incidents of disruption in Parliament as well as the assemblies, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Saturday raised the issue of automatic suspension of the members if they barge into the well of the House. She also asked the speakers to rise above politics and emphasised on strengthening Centre-state relations for development of the country.
In her address to the speakers of legislative assemblies and councils across the country, Mahajan, in the presence of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, said that the issue was raised before her by a lawyer in Indore, and discussed over taking response of the speakers from different legislative assemblies during the two-day meet of presiding officers of legislative bodies.
As the official agenda of the discussion was role of Parliament in Development, Mahajan also stressed on the need for speakers to rise above party politics and ensure that politics does not come in the way of development. Some of the speakers also raised the issue of giving powers to them to supervise and monitor the promises made by ministers in the House.
“We come to the House to discuss on law, policies, rules and regulations for development of the country and respective states and not to disrupt the house and its discussions,” said Mahajan, adding, “I met a lawyer in Indore, who suggested if there can be a law to automatically suspend a member as soon as he enters the well to disrupt the proceedings. He asked me if such a rule can be brought into the House and see how speakers react to this suggestion during this conference.”
Mahajan said the public had become aware and has started discussing such issues.
Stressing on the issue, she said, “It is a rule not to come to the well and the speaker has the right to punish in accordance with the rules. However, as speakers have been representatives of the same House once, it becomes difficult for them to take a decision.” So the speakers try to solve things by trying to explain the members in different ways, she said.
Though the issue was not officially on the agenda, the suggestion from the Lok Sabha Speaker started an informal debate among the speakers during the breaks, drawing a mixed response. While speakers from states like Uttrakhand and Telangana came out in support of the suggestion, others said a system could be evolved through detailed discussion over the issue.
“It is certainly a problem. We have had instances, when just a single member sat in the well and stopped the proceedings for two long hours. However, before coming to any conclusion, there should be a discussion over the issue,” said Charanjeet Singh Atwar, speaker of the Punjab Assembly.
K Swamy Gaud, Speaker of the newly formed Telangana Assembly, said, “Leaders come into the well for mere publicity rather than to raise a serious issue as they get photographed when they are being taken out by the marshal. I completely support the suggestion that come from the Lok Sabha Speaker about automatic suspension of the member, who comes to the well during sitting of the House.”
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