New technology should be used in legislature 8212; Speaker

The Speaker said if they agree with his proposal, then it will be possible to hold a special one-day session to amend the rules of business. In this connection, Gujarathi had a prolonged meeting with his council counterpart N S Pharande. 8220;Ofcourse, if the proposal is approved, we will have to request Governor P C Alexander to convene a special session,8221; he said.

Gujarathi, a chartered accountant by profession, felt that at a juncture where information technology is being used in all spheres of life, it should be utilised effectively in the legislature as well.

The Speaker said, at the moment, a member of either the Upper House or Lower House, has to personally visit the Council Hall to submit his questions, short notice questions or calling attentions. 8220;I feel that the condition of personally submitting the the documents could be abandoned if we use fax network. In that event, the legislator will not be required to rush to Mumbai to submit his questions or notices for calling attentions. Instead, he can submit the same from his constituency or district headquarter,8221; Gujarathi added.

Gujarathi said if fax communication has to be permitted, then the existing rules of business will have to be amended suitably. 8220;If the members agree to the proposal, then we can devise a system, including allotment of code number to the legislators, by which the legislators can fax their information to the legislature secretariat,8221; he said.

Gujarathi said once the proposal is approved, then it will be the responsibility of the legislature secretariat to provide adequate number of fax instruments at the council, legislators8217; hostel as well as the district headquarters and also a large number of telephone lines for the purpose.

Secondly, Gujarathi is also planning to computerise all the records of the secretariat, particularly the debates and the subsequent rulings of the presiding officials on controversial issues.

After his election, Gujarathi has already brought in major changes in the existing rules of submitting the questions and calling attentions. The notice period of 45 days required for submitting the questions has been reduced to 30 days.

Former Irrigation Minister Eknath Khadse said that the notice period should further be reduced to eight days. 8220;In view of the advancement in technology, the period should be reduced to eight days,8221; Khadse said.

He said, earlier, longer period was required to facilitate the department to collect information, but now since, in view of development in the communication technology, there should be no difficulty in procuring the information on the same day.

Simultaneously, Khadse said the period for submission of calling attention notices and short notice questions should also be reduced for same reasons.