No question hour during coming session of Gujarat assembly

Gujarat assembly will not have the formal question hour during the two-day session beginning next month, a move which the Opposition said is against the constitutional norms.

Gujarat assembly speaker Ashok Bhat, however, said that the MLAs will be allowed to raise important questions in the first hour of the proceedings.

"We will allow MLAs to raise important questions in the first hour of the assembly proceedings. But there will not be a formal question hour this time," Bhat told PTI.     

Criticising the move, Leader of the Opposition in the House Gohil said the decision is against the established norms of democracy and the constitution.

This is the first assembly session in the history of Gujarat in which question hour will not be held, Gohil said.

"This is a ridiculous decision because it deprives the people's representatives of their right to ask questions in the House," he said.     

This is a regular session of the Assembly which is being convened after six months so there has to be question hour enabling the MLAs to ask questions regarding their constituencies and issues related to public interest in the House, Gohil added.