Panel to amend rules to ensure smooth House proceedings

A decision has been taken to constitute a Rules Amending Committee by presiding officers of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.

The main objective of the committee will be to amend rules of procedures to ensure that there is minimal disruption or obstruction when both Houses are in business.

The decision was taken during a meeting comprising Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad and Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy and secretariat officials in Bengaluru on Tuesday. Following this, Koliwad met Governor Vajubhai Vala and apprised him about the same.

Koliwad to Deccan Herald that Vala had accepted the proposal. “After I took over as Speaker, I hadn’t met the Governor. This was a courtesy call. But I also apprised the Governor about the constitution of the committee, which he accepted,” he said.

The committee will be headed by Koliwad and Shankaramurthy. It will comprise nine MLAs (one MLA from BJP and JD-S; one Independent; and six MLAs from Congress) and three MLCs (one each from BJP, JD-S and Congress).

“I was very pained at the way the recent legislature session ended. There was a lot of disruption, and a lot of time was wasted. My intention is that regular business is held at least for four hours without any disruption,” he added. He said the amendment to the rules will be finalised by the panel before the next session.