Om Birla | Sanjay Ahlawat
LOK SABHA SPEAKER Om Birla has been in the hot seat for three years now, and has seen many a disruption in the house. But he insists that dialogue and discussion prevailed at the end of the day. In the backdrop of the critique by the courts on the speakers’ decisions regarding defection by legislators, he says that the anti-defection law could be amended. In an interview with THE WEEK, Birla says a committee of speakers has studied the powers of the speaker under the Tenth Schedule or the anti-defection law and submitted its initial report. The panel, he says, is now set to seek legal opinion, after which a proposal will be made to the government.
With respect to the allegations made by the Congress that its MPs were manhandled by the Delhi Police as they protested against the Enforcement Directorate, Birla says the complaints will be dealt with as per rules. Excerpts:
Q/ As you complete three years as Lok Sabha Speaker, what would you list as your major achievements?
A/ In the last three years, the productivity of the Lok Sabha was 106 per cent, the highest compared with the last three Lok Sabhas. The house worked for over 995 hours, functioning till late at night, much beyond the scheduled time. More bills were introduced and passed, and there was discussion on the bills for a longer duration. We were able to prevent disruption through dialogue. On every issue, we had a detailed discussion in the house and that yielded good results.
Q/ What is the progress on making Parliament paperless?
A/ Around 45 per cent of notices given in the 16th Lok Sabha were e-notices. Now, 95 per cent of them are e-notices. A mobile app for use by members is being developed. All the debates of the Lok Sabha, from the first to the seventeenth, are being digitised. Digitisation of around 20 million pages of library documents will start in July 2022. An upgraded version of the digital Parliament app is being developed to connect all the assemblies. By using digital technology and through other measures, the 17th Lok Sabha has seen an unprecedented saving of Rs668.86 crore.
Q/ You have expressed concern over the number of sittings of legislatures being on the decline.
A/ In our presiding officers’ conferences, concern has been expressed on the number of sittings of legislatures decreasing. A lot depends on how much business the state government [brings] to the Vidhan Sabha. It is on the basis of the business that the government proposes that the sittings of the house are decided.
Q/ You have often expressed concern over the decay in discipline and decorum in the legislatures.
A/ This issue has been discussed for long. In 2001, when G.M.C. Balayogi was the Lok Sabha speaker, this issue was comprehensively discussed, and back then, too, it was felt that discipline and decorum in our legislatures was on the decline. All political parties will have to evolve a code of decorum within their organisations on how their members should behave in Parliament.
Q/ You have spoken for the need to have uniformity of laws and procedures in the legislatures.
A/ The issue has been discussed at our presiding officers’ conferences. A committee was tasked to look into it and it has submitted its report. We will seek legal opinion on it and it will be discussed with the states. It is also true that the Vidhan Sabhas are autonomous bodies and we cannot impose rules on them. It has to be a collective effort.
Q/ A committee of speakers was set up to look into the powers of the speaker under the Tenth Schedule or the anti-defection law. What is the progress on it?
A/ The committee has submitted its initial report. The committee, which is headed by C.P. Joshi, speaker of the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha, has recommended that the views of legal experts be sought on the issue of redefining the powers of the Speaker under the Tenth Schedule. The committee will now talk to legal experts and submit its final report.
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Q/ Why was the need felt for a relook at the anti-defection law?
A/ Courts had made certain observations with regard to the role of the speaker on the issue of defection by legislators, and the presiding officers were hurt by these observations. It was felt by the speakers that it is necessary to ensure that fingers are not pointed at their decisions.
Q/ Can an amendment of the anti-defection law be expected soon?
A/ It is with regard to amendment in the anti-defection law that we need to seek the opinion of legal experts. After the committee headed by C.P. Joshi submits its final report to me, I will discuss the issue with the government.
Q/ The post of deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha has been vacant for a record time.
A/ A discussion is on with regard to this issue.
Q/ A Congress delegation met you to complain about the alleged ill-treatment of their MPs by Delhi Police during their protest against the Enforcement Directorate. MP Jothimani has written to you about the violation of her parliamentary privileges. Will you act on their complaint?
A/ Yes, a delegation had met me and informed me about the incidents that happened in the last few days. Later, a written representation in this regard has also been sent to me.
There is a definite procedure laid down to deal with such issues. These matters are disposed of under the rules. In relation to this incident, too, action will be taken as per rules.
Q/ What is the progress on the new Parliament building?
A/ Our effort is that the new Parliament building is ready before the winter session. The work on the new building is going on in full swing. We are behind schedule by one week, but it should be made up in the coming months.
Q/ The new Parliament building will have a bigger seating capacity for the Lok Sabha. Do we need more Lok Sabha MPs?
A/ This is something that the entire country is in agreement on. When the delimitation commission begins the process of redrawing Lok Sabha constituencies, I am confident that the number of seats will go up.