Govt ends Assembly sessions in parts, brings back Question Hour

The new BJP government in Delhi will not hold Assembly sessions in parts, unlike the previous AAP regime, while a "Question Hour" will now be included in the Budget session, Speaker Vijender Gupta announced on Tuesday.

"I intend to run the Assembly in a fair and impartial manner and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and our Rules of Procedure. We shall do away with all the wrong practices which had been followed during the past 10 years," Gupta said during a post session press conference.

The BJP has repeatedly accused the previous AAP government convening special Assembly sessions as per their whims and wishes.

"The practice of holding sessions in part for the whole year will not be followed. Special sessions will be called only in emergent and important situations. The sessions of the Assembly are very important," Gupta said.

He also confirmed that the Budget session would include a Question Hour, a practice largely abandoned by the previous government.

"All the members will be given equal importance irrespective of the party affiliation. However in case Rules are violated strict action will be taken. Maximum utilisation of the floor time shall be my primary concern. The House shall run with co-operation, balance, goodwill and established Rules," the Speaker said.

The first session of the 8th Delhi Assembly began on February 24 and was adjourned sine die on March 3. Over five sittings on February 24, 25, 27, 28, and March 3, the House conducted business for a total of 18 hours and 18 minutes, during which 126 members expressed their views on various issues.

Speaker Gupta expressed sadness over him suspending the AAP MLAs for allegedly disrupting L-G's address on February 25.

"Unfortunately on February 25, I had to send out Members of the Opposition for their unruly action and disturbance to the L-G's address. The LG Address is a solemn occasion and the Hon’ble L-G was discharging his constitutional duties," Gupta said, adding that the Rules of Procedure forbids such disturbances of the L-G's address.

Gupta said that he was also "pained" by the fact that the Leader of Opposition Atishi and her party Members disturbed the proceedings when she was asked to speak on his election as the Speaker.

The Speaker also announced plans to turn the Old Secretariat building into a national monument or a tourist attraction.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to implementing the eVidhaan project, which has been pending for nearly a decade, to make the Delhi Assembly fully paperless and computerised.