Arunachal Assembly Speaker PD Sona on Friday participated in the ‘Meeting of Presiding Officers of Legislative Bodies’ under the chairmanship of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in the Parliament House Complex, New Delhi.
Taking part in the discussion, Sona put forth his views on two important topics – access to assistive technologies: implementation of standards across the Commonwealth Parliaments and youth roundtable: cyberbullying, youth trolling and mental health.
Earlier, while chairing the meeting, Lok Sabha Speaker highlighted that debates and discussions in legislatures should be dignified and every member should conduct themselves in a manner that will add to the dignity and decorum of the House.
He further added that there should not be any disruption during the addresses of the president and governor. The presiding officers should meet regularly and discuss these issues so that meaningful discussion takes place in legislatures, suggested Birla.
Issues like strengthening anti-defection law, awards to outstanding legislatures and the minimum number of sittings of legislatures were also discussed in the meeting. Speaking about strengthening the Anti-Defection Law, Birla said that presiding officers, constitution experts, legal scholars and other stakeholders will be consulted for amendments to the law.
Speaking on the issue of expunction of certain words from parliamentary proceedings, Birla urged the presiding officers to inform the members that no word has been banned but the words which have been expunged from the proceedings as per the directions of the chair have been compiled.
Birla said that presiding officers should guide the members for dignified conduct in the House. He added that efforts must be made to enhance the number of sittings of state legislatures.
Emphasising the need for a single platform for information about legislatures in the country, Birla said that a single digital platform is being prepared and debates of all the legislatures in the country will soon be available on this platform.
Birla also informed that a parliamentary delegation under his leadership will attend the seven-day Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference to be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada from August 26, 2022. He added that 181 delegates from 54 countries including 27 delegates from legislative bodies in India will attend the conference.
Birla also said that the number of CPA Zones in India has increased from three to nine to ensure active participation and extensive discussions of state legislatures within the framework of the CPA.
The presiding officers also discussed the implementation of the resolutions adopted in the POs Conference at Shimla and Guwahati.
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