Speaker’s directive on various issues

Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Mar 28: Speaker Legislative Assembly, Mubarak Gul today directed the Information Department that it should give due space to the MLAs in their coverage who take part in the proceedings of the House.
The direction was issued during the Zero Hour today when Panthers Party MLAs, Harshdev Singh and Balwant Singh Mankotia expressed concern over the reporting made by Information Department who had attributed their speech on budget to Ministers’.
Harshdev also moved a Privilege Motion against the department. He said their statement on the budget in the House the day before yesterday was projected by Information Department in such a way as if it was made by Ministers.
Sharing members’ concern, the  Speaker issued directives to Information Department that along with Ministers statements’ it should also give due coverage to legislators who take part in the debate.
The Speaker also banned reporting of any news items pertaining to House after it is adjourned. Taking serious exception to publication of a news item by a section of the press after the House was adjourned recently, the Speaker said that whatever happened   in the House after its adjournment should not be reported.
The Speaker also termed the reports totally baseless that House was run without quorum on Tuesday. Commenting on a newspaper report,  that House was run without quorum the day before yesterday when Deputy Speaker, Sartaj Madni was conducting its business, Mr Gul said that he was watching the proceedings from his chamber and 23 members were present in the House. Later when he came in the House one more member joined it taking its strength to 24.
Terming the press reports that House was run without quorum as rubbish, Mubarak Gul said “I am for last 31 years in the House and I will never let anything unconstitutional to happen ”. “If House is run without the quorum that will be my last day in the House because I am its custodian ” he added.
Taking serious exception to two Ministers discussing some issue with a senior bureaucrat in officers gallery, the Speaker also said that he will be forced to take up the issue with Chief Secretary that no officer should discuss any thing with the members or Ministers in the House and they should maintain the decorum properly.
The Speaker made this observation when MLA Hakim Yasin pointed towards the  Minister of Planning, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra and Minister for PWD, Abdul Majid Wani who were talking to a senior bureaucrat sitting in officers gallery after leaving their respective seats. The MLA raising the point said this was wrong. The Speaker while terming it not good said  he will be forced to take up the issue with Chief Secretary asking him to take note of it.
The Speaker also issued directives to all Government officers that they should have phone numbers of all MLAs and pick up the phone whenever any MLA calls them. He said in case the officer is busy at that moment and could not pick up the phone he should later call back the MLA.
The Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah while responding to MLAs point said that all officers have been given directives in this regard.
The issue was raised by MLA Langate Engineer Rashid, who said that an Executive Engineer did not pick up his phone when he wanted to turn his attention towards the power cuts in his Constituency.

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