Discussion held in Mysuru on bringing uniformity in procedures and conduct of State Legislative Assemblies

The Presiding Officers of Legislative Assemblies of six States met in Mysuru on Tuesday (May 12) as part of the deliberations to usher in uniformity in the procedures and conduct of all State Legislative Assemblies in the country.

The officers are part of a committee which has been constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and will hold meetings and discuss ways to improve policies, rules, and procedures in the legislatures of all States.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the first meeting of the committee at a resort in Mysuru, Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana, who is also the chairman of the committee, said the committee will hold discussions with Speakers of various State Legislative Assemblies in the regard and prepare a report.

Speakers of the Legislative Assemblies of Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, New Delhi, Karnataka, and Maharashtra — namely Sharingain Longkumar, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Vijender Gupta, U.T. Khader, and Rahul Suresh Narwekar respectively — also attended the meeting.

The committee will elicit suggestions from the Speakers of other States before preparing a report and submitting the same to the Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr. Mahana said.

The next meeting is scheduled to be held in New Delhi in the next month and a half. The committee has been given six months’ time to submit its report, he added.

The rules and procedures of the legislatures were framed 40 years ago, he noted, while pointing out that a generational change used to take place every 25 to 30 years earlier. But nowadays, such a change is taking place faster, he said.

“Against this backdrop, the committee is working towards bringing uniformity by taking suggestions from all States for the functioning of legislatures. The committee is holding discussions with a focus on changes in various systems, including technology, infrastructure, and financial affairs, while keeping public welfare as the main objective,” explained Mr. Mahana.

Karnataka Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader said that in 1891, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar had held a Representative Assembly in Mysuru. The committee’s first meeting was held in Mysuru in memory of the Representative Assembly’s meeting, he pointed out.