Haryana Speaker gets more powers

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Chandigarh, February 26

With a new addition in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Haryana Legislative Assembly, if a Speaker names an MLA, he or she shall stand suspended “automatically” from the House for three consecutive sittings or the remainder of the session, whichever is less.

Committee on Petitions

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Now, the Committee on Petitions can take evidence of experts or interested parties and may also avail the public opinion to make their report on petitions/ representations. Also, the Budget shall be presented to the House after considering the suggestions, if any, of the Estimates Committee. Gian Chand Gupta, speaker

The amendments were passed in the legislative Assembly today.

Earlier, as per Rule 104 B (2), if a Speaker names an MLA, a motion had to be moved that the member (naming him) be suspended from the service of the House. A controversy had arisen in March 2023 when Speaker Gian Chand Gupta had named Indian National Lok Dal MLA Abhay Chautala for casting aspersion on the chair. Chautala had then approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the motion was not moved in his case.

However, on the court’s notice, the Assembly had passed a resolution that it would not submit a reply to the court, citing infringement on its rights.

The newly added Rule 104 D says, “Notwithstanding anything contained in rules 104,104(A), 104(B) and 104(C), in the event of grave disorder occasioned by a member coming in the well of the House or abusing the Rules of the House persistently and wilfully obstructing its business by shouting slogans or otherwise, such member shall, on being named by the Speaker, stand automatically suspended from the service of the House for three consecutive sittings or the remainder of the session, whichever is less.”

Under rules to be observed by MLAs, it has been added that they shall not shout slogans, shall not display badges of any kind in the House (except the National Flag in the form of a lapel pin or badge), shall not display flags, emblems or any exhibits, shall not leave the House immediately after delivering a speech, and shall not distribute within the precincts of House any literature, questionnaire, pamphlets, press notes, and leaflets. It has also been clarified that an MLA “shall not wear specially printed/ designed clothing displaying slogans, signs, quotes, religious wording, etc. of any kind in the House/precinct”.

Faridabad NIT’s Congress MLA Neeraj Sharma had sought permission from the Speaker to allow him to wear a shroud during the Budget session, with “Prabhu Shri Ram, a Swastik mark of Sanatan Dharma, quatrains of Tulsidas, and some problems of his Assembly constituency painted on it”.

The Speaker had refused him permission.

Regarding Deputy Speaker powers, it has been clarified that the Deputy Speaker or any other member competent to preside over a sitting of the House “has the same powers as the Speaker when so presiding”.

The rules related to automatic vote recorder have also been added. While speaking an MLA cannot “utter treasonable, seditious or defamatory words”, “make any reference to strangers in any of the galleries”, and “refer to government officials by the name”.