Haryana Speaker seeks explanation from LoP Hooda over ‘parallel session’ by MLAs

Taking cognisance of the matter involving the gathering of MLAs outside the Assembly premises under the pretext of holding a ‘parallel session’, Haryana Legislative Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan on Tuesday wrote a letter to the Leader of the Opposition, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, seeking a formal clarification. The Assembly Secretariat has also sought comments on this subject from the state government’s Chief Secretary.

The Assembly Speaker stated that this act not only appears to be contrary to Parliamentary traditions but also casts a shadow of doubt upon the dignity of the Legislative Assembly and its established procedures and rules. He asked the Leader of the Opposition to specify under which rules or Parliamentary practices he undertook such an unwarranted activity.

The letter written on behalf of the Assembly Speaker also inquired on what constitutional or procedural grounds he declared the special session of the Haryana Legislative Assembly — held on April 27 — and its proceedings to be unconstitutional. Furthermore, a detailed response was sought regarding the concrete grounds behind labeling as ‘unconstitutional’ the government resolution moved in the House in support of ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ (Women’s Reservation Bill).

The Assembly Speaker emphasised that the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly were conducted in strict conformity with the Constitution, the Rules of Procedure, and established parliamentary traditions; any form of parallel or misleading activity could potentially undermine the dignity and prestige of democratic institutions and their members.

He expressed the expectation that the Leader of the Opposition would provide a prompt and clear response to this matter, thereby clarifying the situation and ensuring that the dignity of democratic norms and Parliamentary traditions remained unviolated.