Every member must follow rule, no one above House rules: Om Birla

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday defended the functioning of the House and rejected allegations by the opposition that their voices were being suppressed. He asserted that every member — including the Leader of the Opposition — has the right to speak only in accordance with the established rules and procedures, emphasizing that no individual stands above the authority of the House.

Speaking in the House a day after the Opposition's motion to remove him from Speaker's post was rejected, Birla said that the parliamentary system functions strictly according to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, which apply equally to all MPs regardless of their position. “Whether it is the Leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition, a minister, or any other member, everyone can speak only as per the rules and procedures of the House,” he said, adding that no member enjoys any special privilege to speak on any subject at any time.

The Speaker noted that the rules governing parliamentary proceedings were framed by the House itself and are neither controlled by the government nor the opposition. “These rules have been inherited by the Chair and they apply equally to every honourable member,” he said.

Refuting allegations that microphones are selectively controlled in the House, Birla said the Speaker does not have any mechanism to switch microphones on or off. “Members can speak only when their turn comes,” he said, dismissing the claims that opposition microphones were deliberately muted.

The Speaker also addressed protests by women MPs from the opposition benches, stating that some members had carried placards and created a ruckus near the treasury benches, forcing him to take steps to protect the dignity of Parliament. He maintained that suspensions were never imposed unnecessarily and were taken only when members violated parliamentary rules.

Birla said that MPs were suspended for breaching the rules of the House, adding that under Rule 377, it is the Speaker’s duty to maintain order and uphold the dignity of Parliament. “Taking such difficult decisions pains me, but members should also reflect on why these suspensions become necessary,” he said.

He further pointed out that all photographs, printed materials, quotations, and documents must receive the Speaker’s approval before being presented in Parliament, noting that the opposition failed to follow this requirement, which compelled the Chair to take strict decisions.

Birla also recalled that when the opposition submitted a notice seeking his removal from the Speaker’s post, he stayed away from the proceedings of the House to maintain the dignity of the Chair. “The Chair does not belong to any individual; it is a symbol of the dignity of the House,” he said.

Thanking both supporters and critics for participating in the debate on the motion against him, the Speaker reiterated his commitment to ensuring that parliamentary proceedings remain fair, impartial, and governed strictly by established rules. He stressed that the House ultimately represents the will of 1.4 billion Indians and must function with discipline and respect for procedure.