Andhra House rules to make Government accountable

The legislative rules sub-committee headed by N Yethiraja Rao submitted its recommendations to Speaker Y Ramakrishnudu on nine counts such as defining Speaker’s podium, regulating the zero hour, fixing a time-table for the House and tabling of action taken reports (ATRs) on House committee reports.

Briefing newsmen, the Speaker clarified that a decision on the twopoints had been postponed to reach a consensus. However, he did not specify whether he would consult the Opposition leaders again.

“Without making the government accountable, efforts are being made to gag our voice,” Congress leader P Janardhan Reddy said after coming out of the meeting in protest. Reddy said that his party wanted the Speaker to come forthwith a comprehensive set of guidelines after studying the procedures in Assemblies of neighbouring states.

Similarly, other Opposition leaders including P Ramaiah (CPM), Baddam Bal Reddy (BJP) and Lakshmi Parvati (NTR-TDP) said that they were opposed to the automatic suspension of members and restrictions on raising issues during zero hour.

According to other guidelines, approved by leaders of all parties, the Speaker’s podium includes the “Speaker’s chair, his table, the stairs leading to his chair and the place behind the chair of the secretary.” While restricting the zero hour for 30 minutes instead of one hour at present, the committee made itmandatory for the government to communicate written replies to issues raised by members within a week.

During question time, three supplementaries would be allowed for each question in the first hour. Only a single supplementary would be allowed thereafter. All ATRs on House committee reports would be placed beore the Assembly within six months. The rules committee unanimously recommended incorporation of a new rule 200 (A) making it imperative on the part of the government to communicate the follow up action on its assurances to the House within 60 days.