New Delhi. Before the Parliament session begins on Monday, MPs have been reminded that the decisions of the Speaker should not be criticized directly or indirectly inside or outside the House and members should not raise slogans including ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Jai Hind’. Members have also been reminded that the rules do not allow demonstrations with placards in the House.
The Rajya Sabha Secretariat has drawn the attention of the members towards parliamentary traditions and parliamentary etiquette by publishing some excerpts from the “Handbook for Rajya Sabha Members” in its bulletin on July 15. The Parliament session is starting from July 22 and it will conclude on August 12. The bulletin says, “For the dignity and seriousness of the proceedings of the House, it is necessary that ‘Thank you’, ‘Aapka Shukriya’, ‘Jai Hind’, ‘Vande Mataram’ or any other slogan should not be raised in the House.
It says that decisions are given by the Chairman in accordance with the previous precedents of the House, and where there is no precedent, normal parliamentary tradition is followed. Quoting an excerpt from the booklet, the bulletin says, “The decisions given by the Chairman should not be criticised directly or indirectly inside or outside the House.”
Citing parliamentary etiquette, the bulletin said that the use of words containing objectionable, offensive and unparliamentary expressions should be completely avoided. The booklet states that when the Chairman feels that a particular word or expression is unparliamentary, it should be withdrawn immediately without debate.
It also states that every member should bow to the presiding officer while entering or leaving the House and before sitting on or getting up from his seat. When a member criticizes another member or a minister, it is expected that the criticizing member should be present in the House to hear the reply. The booklet states, “It is a violation of parliamentary etiquette to be absent from the House when a minister is answering in the House.”
Tags: Indian Parliament, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha
FIRST PUBLISHED : July 20, 2024, 23:11 IST