Assembly rules to be modified, after 22 years

Former minister, veteran member of the legislative assembly and speaker, Gujarat legislative assembly, Ashok Bhatt, has initiated a procedure to modify the Gujarat Legislative Assembly Rules for better parliamentary procedures, after a gap of 22 years.
Bhatt has more then three decades of experience in legislative and parliamentary affairs.

The assembly rules were modified only twice since the formation of the state in 1960 - once in 1973 and then in 1987.

“We have made a committee of three senior officers which is working on this task. We have invited suggestions from legislative members, old assembly secretaries and other experts, who have given us plenty, almost 70 to 80 suggestions for change in different rules, which are under consideration. After getting a report from the official committee, the Legislative Member’s Committee of Rules will look in to the suggestions. Thereafter the assembly will debate on whether to incorporate the suggested changes. In the next assembly session, to be held after the vote of account session, the change of rules will mostly be passed.”

He further informed that technological modernisation of the assembly and computerisation of the procedure, for which change of rules is required, is also under consideration. However, sources informed that both the opposition and the ruling legislative members have suggested change of rules according to their convenience. Now, the committee will have to vet all suggestions to decide what to accept. The assembly is also planning to computerise the process of issuing notice, registering questions etc.