By IANS,
New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Monday called upon legislators to focus on debates and discussions rather than interrupting house proceedings.
She was addressing members of the Bihar Vidhan Mandal during an orientation programme at Bihar Vidhan Sabha Annexe in Patna, according to a statement made available here.
Emphasizing the need for legislative decorum, the Speaker said it was a pre-requisite for efficient functioning. “Our democratic institutions face the challenge meeting the aspirations of the people.”
The Speaker told the legislators: “The quality of debates, legislations enacted and efforts made by us to resolve the problems faced by the people create credibility among people for us.”
Stressing the importance of the Question Hour, Kumar said it is a unique device in the hands of members to ensure accountability of the executive.
“Interruptions during the Question Hour deprive the people of information related to several aspects of the functioning of the government,” she said and added: “It defeats the basic principle of parliamentary democracy.”
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also addressed the participants.
The two-day orientation programme has been organized by the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training and the Bihar Vidhan Sabha Secretariat.