Date:15/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/15/stories/2008071560021200.htm

National

Jethmalani writes to Somnath

Special Correspondent

“Speaker does not belong to any party”

Jethmalani quotes May
Hopes Somnath will uphold obligations of high office

New Delhi: The former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani has written to Somnath Chatterjee, pointing out that once a person occupies the exalted office of Speaker, he or she will cease to belong to any political party.

Copies of his letter dated July 14 were released to the press.

Mr. Jethmalani quoted from May’s ‘Parliamentary Practice’ (page 220, 23rd edition): “The Speaker must, of course, be above party political controversy and must be seen to be completely impartial in all public matters. All sides in the House rely on the Speaker’s disinterest and respect that he or she must stand aside from controversy. Accordingly, on election the Speaker resigns from his or her political party. Even after retirement, a former Speaker will take no part in political issues. The Speaker must keep apart from old party colleagues or any one group or interest. When a Speaker seeks re-election to Parliament no major political party sets up a candidate in opposition.”

Mr. Jethmalani expressed the hope that Mr. Chatterjee would stand by the obligations of his high office and do nothing to lower its dignity.