No-trust move against speaker rejected

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 28.

Amid protests from BJP members, the Delhi Assembly today rejected the no-confidence moved against the Speaker, Chaudhary Prem Singh, by the BJP on the ground that the notice was short of the prescribed period of 14 days since the session was scheduled to adjourn sine die on April 9.

On the other hand, the House today unanimously passed a resolution moved by Mr. Arvinder Singh Lovely, condemning the behaviour of the Leader of the Opposition, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, and deploring his act of casting aspersions on the Chair to hide his deficiency during the proceedings of the House on Tuesday.

As soon as the House assembled, Prof. Mukhi stood up and sought to know the fate of the no-confidence motion, notice given by Mr. Sahib Singh Chauhan, Mr. Nand Kishore Garg, Mr. Ravinder Bansal and himself against the Speaker. The Deputy Speaker, Ms. Kiran Chaudhary, who was in the Chair, informed Prof. Mukhi that the motion had been rejected on ``technical grounds'' and gave a ruling in this regard. This did not satisfy the BJP members who insisted that it could be taken up. The BJP members indulged in loud protests and Mr. Chauhan went to the Well of the House. Despite repeated pleas by the Speaker to resume his seat, Mr. Chauhan did not listen.

Annoyed by the continued disruption by the BJP member, Ms. Chaudhary named Mr. Chauhan. This led to loud protests by the BJP members who rushed to the Well of the House and even climbed the podium of the Vidhan Sabha Secretary to lodge their protest. Ms. Chaudhary was seen asking the MLAs to take their seats but they were in no mood to relent. Sensing the situation going out of control, the Chief Whip of the Congress(I), Mr. Mangat Ram Singhal, moved a motion seeking expulsion of all the BJP members from the House for the entire day which was adopted by the entire House. Ms. Chaudhay also adjourned the House for 15 minutes. The BJP members were physically removed from the House by the marshals and security personnel.

In her ruling, Ms. Chaudhary stated that the day to day rulings of the Speaker should not be challenged as our rules as well as Parliamentary conventions state that all the members without being prejudiced should honour the Chair. There are constitutional provisions, rules and conventions in this regard which have to be followed scrupulously. The notice for no- confidence in the Speaker was given by the BJP members on March 27 and could not be proceeded because the notice is short of prescribed period of 14 days as the session was scheduled to adjourn sine die on April 9.

Ms. Chaudhary said elected representatives should maintain dignity of rules and conventions and remain conscious not only of their rights and happenings in the House but at the same time shall honour the decorum of the Chair. Since the notice does not fulfill the conditions of Rules 252 and 253, it is not admissible.

Meantime, Mr. Lovely, got up to know the fate of his resolution and the Breach of Privilege Motion moved jointly against the Leader of the Opposition, Prof.Jagdish Mukhi, by Mr. Bhisham Sharma, Mr. Mahabal Mishra and Ms. Meira Bhardwaj and him. Ms. Chaudhary informed that the Breach of Privilege motion notice had been sent to Prof. Mukhi and his response was awaited. Then after a little disruption and confusion, the House took up voting on the resolution of Mr. Lovely and passed it unanimously.

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