- Harish Rao questions Assembly working days, House rules, key procedures
- Letter raises concerns on committees, Deputy Speaker and defection case
Hyderabad: Former Minister and Siddipet MLA Tannir Harish Rao wrote an open letter to Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar and raised several concerns about the functioning of the House. He sent the letter as the Speaker completed two years in office. He congratulated him for the milestone. However, he said that serious failures and violations of rules took place during this period.
Harish Rao said that the reduction in the number of working days was a major issue. He stated that the House must sit for the number of days required for public business under Rule 12. However, he said this was not followed. He added that frequent and sudden adjournments without proper reasons went against Rule 13 and Rule 16. He also expressed concern that the spirit of the Constitution was not being protected.
He said that the conduct of the Question Hour and Zero Hour did not follow the rules. He mentioned Rules 38 to 52 and Rules 53 to 62 and said these guidelines were not being implemented. He added that standing questions answered by ministers were being stopped from discussion in the House. He said this violated the right to question time under Rule 38. He also said that limiting members from asking supplementary questions went against Rule 50. According to him, the shortening of Zero Hour also violated the rights of the House.
Harish Rao said that the answers to unstarred questions must be tabled under Rule 39. Also, Rule 41 says the replies must be given within the given time. However, he said these rules were not followed and accountability was lost.
He pointed out that House Committees had not been formed for two years. He said Rules 196 and 198 required these committees. He stated that Rule 227 says committee work must continue even after the sessions end. However, he said there was no oversight because committees had not been set up. He also noted that the chairman of the Estimates Committee resigned, but the committee was not reconstituted. He said Rules 199 and 201 were ignored.
Harish Rao said that not appointing a Deputy Speaker was another violation. He said Rule 8 required the election of a Deputy Speaker. He added that the Deputy Speaker heads the Privilege Committee, which protects members’ rights. He said the committee became inactive due to the vacancy. As a result, many complaints remained pending without a solution, which he said violated Rules 256 and 257.
He expressed concern that MLAs who defected to other parties were not facing action. He said the Legislative Assembly (Prevention of Defection) Rules 1986 required inquiry and notices under Rules 3 to 7. He added that this failure went against Article 191(2) of the Constitution. He also referred to the Supreme Court verdict in the Kaisham Meghchandra Singh case. He said ignoring the Supreme Court’s direction harmed constitutional values.
Harish Rao demanded immediate corrective steps. He suggested that the Assembly meet for at least 30 days each year. He said Question Hour, answers and Zero Hour must follow rules. He added that unstarred question replies must follow the deadline. He said all House committees must be formed. He also asked that the Deputy Speaker election must begin. He said the Privilege Committee must be revived and rule-based conduct must return. He also said pending disqualification cases must be resolved as per the Constitution, law and court rulings.
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