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This story is from December 14, 2019

Om Birla plans common rulebook for state Houses, Parliament

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said he will confer with Speakers of all state assemblies later this month to put in place a set of common rules to govern all state legislatures as well as the Indian Parliament.
Om Birla plans common rulebook for state Houses, Parliament
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. (ANI)
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said he will confer with Speakers of all state assemblies later this month to put in place a set of common rules to govern all state legislatures as well as the Indian Parliament.
“State assemblies and Lok Sabha have their own autonomy and independence. However, they should have common rules and guidelines governing them. In the past, we formed three committees to discuss this.
We will hold another meeting with Speakers of all state assemblies over January 18, 19 and 20 in Dehradun where this will be discussed and debated,” Birla said, asserting that the aim of the exercise is to hold a healthy discussion and to build a “bridge” between state assemblies and Parliament.
He also said Lok Sabha has instituted a system under which members of the House will rope in domain experts from concerned departments to give detailed explanations to MPs about all bills that are to be introduced in the House. “I understand that members represent 15-20 lakh people in their constituencies and it is important for them to know in detail the legislations that are going to be enacted by them. As a result, we have instituted this system. Some bills are introduced without adequate time, but I have permitted that when they concern matters of urgent importance,” Birla said, in response to a question on opposition’s charge that bills were not being circulated to them 48-hours in advance, as per the House rules.
The Lok Sabha Speaker elaborated on his digital initiative, as a part of which parliamentary proceedings dating back to 1858 have been digitised and made available on the Parliament website. Birla also said that India’s new Parliament, expected to be readied in time for 2022, when the country celebrates its 75th year of Independence, will see digital initiatives —like “dashboards” in front of every member from which they can read — put in place.
Referring to instances where members of treasury or opposition benches had indulged in “indiscipline”, Birla said the Speaker’s office regards all members of the House equally and with respect and that he had referred all privilege matters to the “relevant committees”. Lok Sabha officials also clarified that the process involved the complaints being considered by the Speaker first, after which he would forward them to concerned committees.
Birla said, “The House belongs to everyone and it runs with everyone’s consent. I have tried to make members follow tradition and practises. I have spoken to members and asked them to cooperate, and requested both the treasury benches and the opposition parties to maintain the dignity of the House. Despite this, sometimes the House had to be adjourned.”
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