New Delhi: A committee of presiding officers constituted by Om Birla on Tuesday reviewed the constitutional and procedural framework governing the disqualification of legislators under the anti-defection law, officials said.
The deliberations took place during the second meeting of the Committee of Presiding Officers in Puri, bringing together key legislative figures and constitutional experts to examine the functioning and interpretation of provisions under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
The four-member panel, headed by Rahul Narwekar, was originally constituted in January 2020 to study issues related to the powers and responsibilities of presiding officers in deciding disqualification petitions. The committee is tasked with reviewing existing rules and identifying gaps or inconsistencies in their implementation across different state legislatures.
Other members of the panel include U.T. Khader, Sharingain Longkumer, and Surama Padhi. Senior Lok Sabha officials, secretaries from various state assemblies, constitutional experts, and Pitambar Acharya also attended the meeting, contributing to the discussions on legal and procedural clarity.
Officials said that the committee’s deliberations are expected to culminate in a set of comprehensive guidelines for presiding officers across all state legislatures. These guidelines aim to ensure greater consistency, transparency, and efficiency in handling disqualification cases under the anti-defection law, which has often been subject to delays and differing interpretations.
In her welcome address, Padhi underscored the importance of the discussions in strengthening the institutional framework that governs the Tenth Schedule. She noted that evolving political dynamics and increasing instances of party defections necessitate clearer norms and robust mechanisms for adjudication.
The meeting also featured sessions focused on broader themes such as reinforcing parliamentary democracy and improving the overall functioning of legislative institutions. Participants exchanged views on best practices and shared experiences from their respective states to build a more cohesive approach to legislative governance.
Following the discussions, the committee decided to convene its next meeting in Karnataka in about two months to continue its review and work towards finalising its recommendations.
