Punjab Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Mohan Mittal has suggested that the number of sittings in legislative bodies including Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Sabha’s, Vidhan Parishad’s across the country should be increased to strengthen the democratic institutions of the country. Mittal was speaking at the 16th All India Chief Whips Conference organized by Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India at Goa today.Madan Mohan Mittal regretted that there was an increasing trend to decrease the sittings of legislative bodies to minimum possible just to fulfil constitutional obligations and by such practices these bodies were getting weakened day by day. He said that if the number of sittings in legislative assemblies should be increased and this conference should fix the minimum sittings per year.
He said that this step would help in strengthening the roots of our democracy.Giving a call to change the practice of informing the speaker after the detention of an elected representative, Mittal said that we should bring out constitutional amendment making it mandatory to seek prior permission of speaker before detaining the member. He said that detaining first and informing later provision could be misused by the ruling party especially when it is reduced to a minority and was preparing for show of strength on the floor of the house.Stressing the need for making the proceedings of legislative bodies more participatory, Mittal said that during the session all members cannot participate in the proceedings.
He cited the example of Punjab assembly when it kept two days exclusive for members when every member can raise the problems of his own constituency, get it recorded in the proceedings of assembly without any political discourse. He said that such practice should be replicated by all legislative bodies to involve members in the proceedings.
The minister also said that whenever the President/Governor/Finance Minister addresses the house, he should be listened to with rapt attention and proper decorum should be maintained. He was also of the view that question hour should not be disturbed or suspended and it should always be completed and also it is the responsibility of the whip to try for the consensus by taking everybody along. Opposition should also be listened to and given the chance to air it’s views before any bill is passed.Mittal also spoke on floor management in the house, ensuring decorum and discipline in the house, code of conduct for members of parliament and state legislators, ensuring continued presence of members during sittings of the house and encouraging participation, private members bill and resolutions, codification of privileges, professional training and research assistance to elected representatives and e-parliament/legislature: use of information and communication technology.