Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 23: Speaker Legislative Assembly, Mubarak Gul and Deputy Speaker, Sartaz Madni today expressed serious concern over the MLAs not attending the proceedings resulting into quorum problem in the House.
The issue of lack of quorum was first raised by CPM MLA, Mohd Yousaf Tarigami during the discussion on the grants of School Education Department. “Minister Incharge School Education Department is not present in the House and this indicates that House is being taken far granted”, he remarked.
However, Deputy Speaker, Mohd Sartaz Madni, who was conducting the proceedings of the House at that time, said, “Deputy Chief Minister has just left the House…some important matters have also to be dealt with”. Within fraction of seconds, Deputy Chief Minister occupied his seat in the House.
After sometime, Hiranagar MLA Durga Dass stood up to leave the House. He was immediately stopped by the Chair to maintain quorum in the House. However, the MLA was allowed to leave the House after he indicated that he was going to urinate. Mr Madni also stopped National Conference MLA Aijaz Jan from leaving the House with the direction to maintain quorum.
“I have told the MLAs a number of times to maintain quorum and sanctity of the House. It is the duty of the Treasury Benches to ensure quorum”, Deputy Speaker remarked. Congress MLA and former Minister G M Saroori stated that Government must appeal the Opposition members to return so that sanctity of the House could be maintained.
Later, Speaker also made it clear to the Members that he would not conduct the proceedings of the House even for a minute in case there was no quorum.
Follow our WhatsApp channel