A first in 65 years: UP Assembly to get new rules of procedure

Once passed, the Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, 2023, would replace the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of UP Legislative Assembly, 1958.

Having witnessed unruly scenes in the past, the members would not be allowed to tear any document inside the House as per the new rules.

Also, the time period for summons to the members, which was earlier 14 days before the Assembly is summoned by the Governor, will now be seven days.

Moreover, the medium of information, which was either newspapers, gazettes or “wires” would be “electronic communication” as well. Under the new rules, answers to questions will be uploaded online half-an-hour before the start of the session for easy reference for everyone and not just the member who raised the question, it is learnt.

According to the proposed rules, the members will not be allowed to show their back to the speaker’s chair or to approach the speaker’s seat on their own.

Also, showing of placards and banners, which has become a routine, will not be allowed inside the Assembly, nor would the members be able to distribute any literature, questions, books or press statements not related to the functioning of the House.

Besides, the members will have to ensure that they do not speak or laugh so loudly in the lobby that it is heard inside the Assembly.

They will not be allowed to read any written speech without prior permission of the speaker, nor would they be allowed to take names of officers inside the Assembly. The new rules will be open for discussion and proposed amendments till August 9 and are likely to be passed on the last day of this session i.e. August 11.

According to the new rules, maximum of two supplementary questions will be allowed unless allowed by the speaker.

The new rules, it was claimed, will also make the government more accountable. For instance, for calling attention to the matters of urgent public importance, the government will be required to give reply to the member concerned and the Assembly secretariat within 30 days.

Also, if a minister is not in a position to answer “short-notice questions” at a short notice, he/she, while informing the Assembly secretariat about it, will also be required to give a reason in brief for not being able to do so.

Besides, any speech given in the Upper House would not be quoted in the Assembly unless it is related to a policy.