A conference of Speakers of State Assemblies will be convened later this month to discuss various aspects of smooth functioning of Parliament and state legislatures, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said here on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference here, Birla said there is a need for an overall improvement in the conduct of elected representatives and expressed confidence that things are moving in the right direction.
The Speaker said in recently concluded first session of 17th Lok Sabha, members took keen interest in the smooth transaction of business and no one hesitated to sit late for passing of the Bills and taking up other matters in the House.
“A meeting of presiding officers of Lok Sabha will be held later this month,” he said answering a question and maintained issues related to conduct of elected representatives and ensuring ‘no disturbance and chaos’ in the Houses will be also discussed among other things. “Of course, all respective state assemblies have their own independence and functional autonomy,” said Birla.
The Speaker made special mention about late sittings in Lok Sabha and said on July 18 a record was made by itself when as many as 161 MPs made use of Zero Hour proceedings and raised matters pertaining to their constituencies.
“I allowed even members whose names did not come through lottery for Zero Hour and in that process Congress member Sonia Gandhi was also given time,” Mr Birla said.
The Speaker said in more ways than one, the opening session of the 17th Lok Sabha created record by passing a record number of 33 Bills while in 1952 – the first session after Independence – could pass 27 Bills in 67-day session. In 1964, 31 Bills were introduced out of which 29 Bills were passed.
With a view to update Lok Sabha members about new Bills to be introduced, a panel of experts and officials will brief them for an hour in the morning from 9 am during the session, the Speaker said. (UNI)
