Birla: Unruly behaviour by lawmakers on rise

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 15

Incidents of unparliamentary behaviour by public representatives have increased in recent years and tarnished the image of the democratic institutions, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Wednesday.

Inaugurating the 81st All-India Presiding Officers Conference (AIPOC) at Parliament House here, he underlined that the credibility of legislatures is linked to the conduct and behaviour of their members. “Privileges, which public representatives enjoy, come with responsibilities meant for performing their duties as parliamentarians in an effective manner and without any hindrance,” he said.

What probably was playing on Birla’s mind was the recently concluded monsoon session of the Parliament that saw disruption every day, resulting from noisy protests by Opposition MPs on the Pegasus issue. The Speaker, however, refrained from divulging what exactly provoked him to express concern about the behaviour of lawmakers.

Birla emphasised that the members were expected to observe the highest standards of discipline and decorum, both inside and outside the legislatures.