Assembly to host Commonwealth conference at Dharamsala

The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly is set to host the annual conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), India Region-II, at Tapovan in Dharamsala on June 30 and July 1.

Announcing the event, Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said the conference would bring together Speakers and MLAs from five states under Region-II — Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi. The Speakers of these Assemblies have been specially invited as distinguished guests.

The Speaker said that the two-day conference aims to promote meaningful dialogue on legislative procedures, democratic governance and regional cooperation. He emphasised that the platform would facilitate the exchange of best practices and play a vital role in strengthening parliamentary institutions across the country.

He that three key topics would be deliberated upon during the conference. On June 30, delegates will discuss “Role of the legislature in the management of state resources in comparison to the development of the state.”

On July 1 (morning session), the topic will be “Provision of disqualification on the basis of defection under Article 102 and 191 of the 10th Schedule.” In the afternoon session, discussions will be held on the “Use of Artificial Intelligence in Legislative Assemblies.”

He said that the Council of Ministers and Members of Parliament from Himachal Pradesh have also been invited to participate in the deliberations.

The conference will be inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who also serves as President of CPA, India Region. The closing ceremony on July 1 will be presided over by Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla.

Prominent dignitaries attending the inaugural session include Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Dr Harivansh Narayan Singh, Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, and Himachal Pradesh Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harsh Vardhan Chauhan.

The closing ceremony will be attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Dr Harivansh Narayan Singh and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur.