Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Tuesday warned senior bureaucrats against skipping important discussions in the House, especially debates on the state budget, asking them to treat it as a “last chance” for the bureaucracy, reported news agency PTI.
Addressing the Lower House before the discussion on the budget, Narwekar said that the presence of senior officers in the gallery is essential for providing immediate administrative inputs to ministers during debates.
“The discussion on the state budget is a serious matter, and it is the responsibility of the government as well as the administration to treat it with due importance,” he said, reported PTI.
The Speaker noted that he had earlier written to the state bureaucracy asking senior officers to remain present during key debates in the state assembly.
He said the warning should be treated as a “last chance” for the bureaucracy.
“If officers of the additional chief secretary-level are not present in the gallery during such important discussions in the future, the House will be compelled to take appropriate action,” he said, reported PTI.
Narwekar further said that the smooth functioning of the House depends on cooperation from both elected representatives and the administration, while urging members to ensure that debates are conducted within the scheduled time so that the assembly`s business can be managed efficiently, reported PTI.
Panel recommends 30-day jail for NCP (SP) worker over remarks against Maharashtra council chariman
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra legislative council`s privileges committee on Tuesday recommended 30 days of civil imprisonment for an NCP (SP) worker for allegedly using “foul and abusive” language against Chairman Ram Shinde, reported PTI.
Presenting the committee`s report in the council, committee chairman and BJP MLC Prasad Lad noted that the panel viewed the incident as a serious breach of privilege and an insult to the dignity of the House.
“Going by the gravity of the foul language used by NCP (SP) worker Suryakant More against Chairman Ram Shinde, the incident is considered a rare case. We recommend 30 days of civil imprisonment to More,” Lad said in the House, reported PTI.
He, however, pointed out that the punishment would technically lapse once the council`s proceedings are adjourned till the next session.
“Such punishment becomes void once the working of the council is suspended until the next session. In such a case, More will walk out of prison once the session is over. Hence, the committee recommends that the remaining days of imprisonment be completed during the next session of the council,” Lad said, reported PTI.
The session of the state legislative council will conclude on March 25.
(With inputs from PTI)
