New Delhi: With several Opposition leaders on Tuesday serving a notice to move a no-confidence motion against Om Birla, the Lok Sabha speaker said he won’t preside over the Lower House of the Parliament on moral grounds till the issue is resolved.
120 Opposition leaders submit notice against Birla
A total of 120 Opposition leaders in the Parliament submitted a notice to Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh to move a no-confidence motion. While the TMC did not sign the motion, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, too did not sign the motion.
Notably, Article 96 of the Constitution bars a speaker or a deputy speaker from presiding over the House till the time his or her removal from office is under consideration. The speaker also has the right to defend himself during a no-confidence motion.
Birla has asked the Secretary General to examine the notice and take appropriate action. As per sources to PTI, the notice will be examined and proceed as per the rules. The notice was submitted by Congress MP and chief whip K Suresh on behalf of several Opposition parties.
What did the letter say?
“We, the undersigned, hereby give notice of a resolution for the removal of Shri Om Birla from the office of Speaker Lok Sabha, in terms of the provisions of Article 94(c) of the Constitution of India, because of the blatantly partisan manner in which he has been conducting the business of the Lok Sabha,” the notice by Opposition parties read.
The notice further added that Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to complete his speech on Motion of Thanks to the President’s address on February 2. It added that eight MPs were “arbitrarily suspended” for the entire Budget session.
“While we hold the Speaker, Lok Sabha, in personal regard, we are pained and anguished at the manner in which he has consistently prevented opposition members of Parliament from raising issues of legitimate public concern,” the notice further said.