New Delhi: The functioning of Parliament and the administration of Parliament Complex – which falls under the purview of the Speaker – has undergone several changes after Om Birla took over as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha in 2019. The overall efficiency of the Lower House has increased, and several steps have been taken. To harness technology. The House and the Secretariat are slowly moving towards a paperless office. Questions and answers as well as other documents are made available virtually to members, debate clips are available through the digital library, and the process of linking state legislatures with parliament online has begun. Birla spoke to ET’s Rakesh Mohan Chaturvedi on various issues related to how Parliament was run in the last three years. Edited excerpt:
Will the restrictions and changes made during the COVID-19 pandemic be reflected in the upcoming monsoon season as well?
The cases of Kovid-19 have intensified once again. So, we will consult the Chairman of Rajya Sabha and (medical) experts and based on that we will plan the work. But both the houses will work together and not in morning and evening shift.
The opposition has been aggressive in the House, which has led to adjournments and suspensions. Where do you think the issues stand today?
The cases of Kovid-19 have intensified once again. So, we will consult the Chairman of Rajya Sabha and (medical) experts and based on that we will plan the work. But both the houses will work together and not in morning and evening shift.
The opposition has been aggressive in the House, which has led to adjournments and suspensions. Where do you think the issues stand today?
The opposition can make its point, debate and discuss – it should happen in Parliament. But I have always said that placards and slogans should not be raised. You can raise objections on some issues but express your views from your seat only. I will listen to your views, but it is not right to come to the Well of the House and raise slogans. The House is run with the support of the opposition, and it has an important role to play. Its role should be positive though agreement-disagree is fine.
Some members are of the view that the Chair is sometimes partial. your thoughts?
I don’t think any prominent leader has said so in the last three years. One or two members of some parties – individuals, not leaders of the party – may have some objection to certain issues. The House runs on rules and principles. Broadly speaking, no one has made any such comment.
There is also criticism that bills are not being referred to standing committees for scrutiny and important bills are passed within a day.
It is not that Bills are not being referred to Standing Committees. The government believes that there are many bills that should be passed immediately so that people get speedy justice or rights. Any government of any party brings a bill to give rights to the people, bring transparency and make the executive accountable. It is the intention of any government that we have a long debate before passing the bills.
There has also been controversy within some standing committees. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has written a letter to you demanding impeachment of IT Panel Chairman Shashi Tharoor. There have been other cases as well.
Issues come up in Standing Committees and there may be agreements and disagreements among the members. When we get the final report from the Standing Committee (on a Bill or any matter), it is our job to see what the majority says. Disagreement is also recorded. Broadly speaking, committees build consensus on issues as these panels rise above political party differences. They discuss well.
But in the letter, permission has been sought to impeach the Speaker.
We usually do not interfere in the working of the committees. They have their own powers, and these committees function according to rules and regulations.
Some cases in the Ethics and Privileges Committee have been kept pending for five years…
No, no, it is not so. It is not that no action is taken for five years, but there is a process in which notice is served and then there is a reply. The procedure has to be followed. It is like a judicial process where the other side also has to be heard. You cannot judge unilaterally.
There is a case before the IT Standing Committee in which Facebook whistleblower Sophie Zhang asked permission for your testimony. The rule states that a foreigner can testify only if the speaker gives permission.
Yes, but there are rules and procedures for calling a foreigner (to testify before a parliamentary committee). There is no provision in the rules to call a foreigner for testimony. If a private (foreign) person says that I want to make a statement and keeps on tweeting about him, I think it is not fair to the Parliament system. Otherwise someone will sit outside and say I want to appear. In a committee, MPs have the right to participate.
A committee must go through the rules and procedures before sending a case for summoning. Such matters are not decided by convention. One cannot say that someone (from another country) was summoned by a Parliament committee once a long time ago. Panels work as per rules. There is a provision to call someone from the state to testify and when such a request comes to me, I give permission. But there is no provision to summon anyone from any other country.
This case is related to the fake Facebook account of BJP MP Vinod Sonkar.
I am not aware of the matter and what was discussed in the committee.
Three years have passed and still the post of Deputy Speaker is vacant. Is any step being taken in this regard?
There has been some discussion. Let’s see if there is a consensus and any proposal comes to me. If it happens, I will take a decision. Whenever such a proposal comes from the House, I will call.
When will the new Parliament complex be ready?
The construction work is 5-6 days behind schedule but it is likely that we will hold the winter session of 2022 (which usually starts in the last week of November) in the new Parliament building. That’s our goal.
The panel of presiding officers that you have constituted also includes A Raja (DMK) who was an accused in the 2G spectrum scam.
See, a panelist (to preside over the proceedings of the house) is a member of parliament who is elected and sent by the people. Cases are often registered against MPs, but it is not a criterion (for appointing them). We agree to whatever name the party sends to us. The tradition is that the party decides the name.
