By IANS,
New Delhi: The Parliament Secretariat, set up in the British era, turned 82 Saturday and to mark the occasion Speaker Meira Kumar presented awards for meritorious service to officers and staff of the lower house of Indian parliament.
Meira Kumar and Lok Sabha secretary-general P.D.T. Achary addressed staff of the secretariat on the occasion.
“Meritorious awards for the year 2009 were given to officers and staff of the secretariat in various disciplines,” an official statement said.
Meira Kumar also gave away prizes to the winners of the drawing competition organised Nov 14 by the Parliament Library.
Cultural programmes and competitions were organised to mark the Lok Sabha Day.
In the British era, the Indian parliament was known as the Central Legislative Assembly. It was established in 1919 but officially opened in 1921 by the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. The lower house was later renamed as the Lok Sabha and upper house the Rajya Sabha in 1952 after India became a republic.