All-party meet on House conduct code

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has called a meeting of leaders, deputy leaders and whips of political parties in both Houses on November 8 to discuss a code of conduct for functioning of Parliament.

He regretted that the Railway Budget and the Demands of Grants of the General Budget and Finance Bill, 2004, were passed without discussion due to continued interruptions and forced adjournments of the Houses. ‘‘The collective wisdom of the leaders (at the forthcoming meeting) will act as a guiding force in the effective functioning of Parliament in the days to come,’’ Chatterjee said.

Inaugurating a conference of presiding officers of legislation bodies in Kolkata, Chatterjee said the success of a democratic institution rests on its orderly functioning and the extent to which it adheres to the standards of discipline, dignity and decorum for discharging its functions. Referring to the role of parliamentary committees, Chatterjee said the number of Departmentally Related Standing Committees in Parliament has been increased.