Observing that the Question Hour has a special significance in the proceedings of the House, Speaker Meira Kumar on Sunday said some key decisions aimed at increasing its efficacy will be operative from the 5th session of the 15th Lok Sabha.
“These procedural changes will meet the long felt need to regulate the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha more effectively”, Ms Kumar said addressing at the inauguration of the 75th All India Presiding Officer’s Conference at the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Complex here.
Ms Kumar said the Question Hour has a specific significance and sanctity in the proceedings of the House particularly in ventilating the grievances of the public in matters concerning the administration and working of the ministers and their allied departments and organisations.
“Question Hour being the very first hour, sets the mood of the House for the day. Its disruption adversely affects the proceedings of the entire day,” she said.
Elaborating on the decision, Ms Kumar said the hitherto minimum and maximum period of 10 and 21 days respectively, for giving notices by the members for questions has been done away with and a uniform period of fifteen days has been prescribed for giving such notices. As per a new decision, the Speaker has now been vested with powers to direct answer to a Starred Question of a member who is absent in the House when his or her name is called, she said. A member is now required to make a statement in the House correcting the reply given earlier.
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Meira gives J&K poetic accolade
Srinagar : Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar turned poetic in course of her address to the 75th Conference of presiding officers and secretaries, which she opened here on Sunday. She said: “Kashmir Hindustan ki shaan hai — yahan key parbat, vaadiyan, jheelein, nadiyan, khushbu sey bhari hawain, chinar key darakhat, rasiley phal, kaisar ki kiyariyan sabhi ka man moh letei hain.
Jammu, Kashmir va Ladakh mein hindu, islam, bodh dharam ka sangam hai. Inn sabhi dharmon, mazhabon key mahatvapuran dharam sthalon ka jahan lakhon shardalon aatey hain, qawyun lekhakon, karigaron key pas bemisal hunar hai, jadoo hai yahan ki khoobsurti ruhani hai, yahan key log farishton ki tarah hain — dekhney mein bhi-dil se bhi yahan key sabhi logon ko hamara pranam aur shub kamnain”. —PTI