For the first time in the history of parliament, the speaker has referred names of as many 32 MPs for defying the chair and disrupting the proceedings.
For the first time, names of as many as 32 MPs referred to privileges panel for disorderly behaviour
NEW DELHI: At last, Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee has cracked the whip. For the first time in the history of parliament, the speaker has referred names of as many 32 MPs for defying the chair and disrupting the proceedings during the ongoing second phase of budget session.
What got the Chatterjee’s goat was continued slogan shouting, rushing to the well of the House and disregarding his continued pleas not to disrupt business. The members facing the flak belong to the BJP, BSP, Shiv Sena, BJD, Akali Dal and JD(U). They had stormed the well and raised slogans on issues of price rise and package for drought-hit Bundelkhand.
Sources said similar fate may befall some other members who disrupted the Question Hour for nearly 35 minutes on April 28 by raising slogans on alleged misuse of office by TR Baalu.
He had warned the ministers several times that he would be forced to take action. But some of them did not bother at all. Slogan-shouting and defying the chair are considered unparliamentary actions and the privileges committee, after going though all aspects of the case, could recommend punishment against the erring MPs or then let them off with a warning.
The matter was referred under rule 349 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha for “examination, investigation and report.” From the very first day of the second half of the budget session, i.e., April 15, he has been reminding the members that there is a rule which prohibits members from raising slogans on the floor of the House.
Sources close to the Speaker said “the members must realise the need to respect the rules of the House, so that the credibility of the highest democratic institution is not eroded. To evolve consensus on this matter he has called as many as three major meetings with leaders in the parliament in less than four years of his tenure so far. The last meeting was as recent as in August 2007, where he had suggested the formula of ‘no work, no pay’, among other measures, but there was no political consensus.”
Over the last few days, the speaker has been asking the officers at the House Table to take down the names of members who have been shouting slogans and disrupting the proceedings.
k_benedict@dnaindia.net
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