Resolution to ensure decorum in legislatures adopted

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 25. In today's high-level 9-hour conference on ``Discipline and Decorum in Parliament and State Legislatures,'' the participants went beyond paying lip service and recommended sweeping changes in the conduct of parliamentarians and legislators.

Attended by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Vice-President, Mr. Krishan Kant, and the Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, besides 300 delegates, 59 presiding officers and 12 Chief Ministers, the conference adopted a resolution, aimed at restoring decorum and orderliness to the functioning of Parliament and the State Legislatures.

The draft resolution, prepared by a committee headed by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. P.M. Sayeed, addressed various issues of concern such as the sharp decline in the number of sittings and frequent turmoil in legislatures, among others. The committee was set up by the Speaker, Mr. G.M.C. Balayogi.

The resolution called for immediate steps to amend the Constitution to ensure a minimum of 110 days of sitting in a legislature having more than 100 members, and 90 to 50 days of sitting in legislatures with a strength of less than 100 members, depending on the size of the State.

The resolution also called on the legislators to file their statement of income, assets and liabilities, and indicate changes, if any, in course of time. It also called for the maintenance of a register of members' interests.

The resolution recommended that violations or breach of the Code of Conduct be duly punished by admonition, reprimand, censure or withdrawal from the House. And for offences of ``grave misconduct,'' it recommended automatic suspension from the service of the House for a specific period.

Calling on the presiding officers to constitute an Ethics Committee for the enforcement of the Code of Conduct, the resolution called on all political parties to lay down parameters, with emphasis on proven standards in public life, for the selection of electoral candidates.

It sought to make the Leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition and leaders of the legislatures responsible for the discipline and behaviour of their members. Conceding the point made by the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, in her inaugural address, the resolution called on the Government to adopt a more positive and responsive attitude towards the Opposition. ``The Treasury Benches should be more accommodative by responding promptly to matters raised by the Opposition members on the floor of the House.''

The presiding officers and the leaders of the Legislature Party have been asked to ensure that new members are given proper orientation in parliamentary procedure and decorum, by the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training.

Parliament and the Legislatures of the States and Union Territories have been asked to immediately adopt and enforce the Code of Conduct, and make changes wherever required to facilitate its implementation. It contains a list of ``do's'' and ``dont's'' for members inside and outside the House.

The code suggests some drastic curbs on perks and on issues like receiving gifts from private parties. It also calls for restrictions on foreign study tours. Significantly, the exhaustive code prohibits members from entering the well of the House, raising slogans, using mobile phones in the House, interrupting other members and asks them to avoid giving a running commentary while other members are speaking.

According to Mr. Sayeed, the responsibility is now on the presiding officers to implement the measures, which will come into force immediately.

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Section  : National
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