Chandigarh : The first session of Haryana’s 15th Legislative Assembly, which was convened on October 25, dodged several established protocols as it was adjourned indefinitely without the governor’s address. As per Article 176 of the Indian Constitution, the governor’s address is mandatory at the start of the Assembly’s first session.
While adjourning the session, neither the Parliamentary Affairs Minister nor the Speaker clarified why the rule was not followed. Since Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya hasn’t yet formally concluded the session, the Speaker can call a meeting at a date recommended by the CM, during which the former’s address could take place.
Advocate Hemant Kumar, a constitutional expert, cited by Jagran.com, noted that the previous 14th Assembly’s inaugural session on October 25, 2019, spanned three days. On the first day, the newly elected members were sworn in, followed by the Speaker’s election on November 4, and then the governor’s address on November 5. Similarly, in 2014, the inaugural session of the 13th Assembly was held over three days, with the governor’s address on November 4, after members took oaths and elected a Speaker.
In 2009, the inaugural session was convened for a day, where newly elected MLAs took oath. The speaker was also elected on the same day, followed by the speech of the governor. The then CM Bhupinder Hooda proved majority and the session was adjourned indefinitely.
Kumar also highlighted procedural lapses during the recent session, noting that acting (pro tem) Speaker Raghubir Singh Kadian administered oaths to newly elected legislators using a flawed draft. This led most MLAs, including Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini and six ministers, to take oaths pledging both to God and allegiance to the Constitution—a combination that is not permitted under the Third Schedule of the Constitution, which specifies a choice between the two forms of oath.
Kumar has raised the issue with the President, Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Union Home Minister, Governor and Speaker of the Haryana Assembly, seeking intervention to correct the error.
