Shimla, Sept 4,
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan expressed concerns about the unilateral decision by the Speaker to introduce zero hour in the House. He emphasized the need for discussion and consensus among the Treasury Benches before implementing new procedures. Chauhan proposed establishing clear guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure the smooth functioning of zero hour. He cautioned against allowing the opposition to exploit the new system for political gain.
Chauhan suggested that the Speaker and the Business Advisory Committee should be involved in determining the modalities of zero hour, considering the government’s need to prepare responses for raised queries. He clarified that his comments were not intended to challenge the Speaker’s authority but rather to ensure a collaborative approach.
Jagat Singh Negi welcomed the introduction of zero hour in the House, noting that it is a common practice in both Parliament and state assemblies. He emphasized the need for finalized modalities and SOPs to streamline the process, suggesting that 30 minutes may not be sufficient for members to raise their concerns without requiring immediate government responses.
The Leader of Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, and Randhir Sharma objected to the Treasury Benches’ criticism of the Speaker. They advocated for the immediate implementation of zero hour in the current session.
The Chief Minister argued that the SOPs should have finalized before introducing zero hour, citing the example of Parliament’s one-month response time for queries. He proposed delaying the implementation until the next session.
Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania clarified that zero hour is intended for issues not listed in the House’s agenda. He emphasized that members have the right to raise concerns during zero hour, but the government is not obligated to provide a response to every query. The Speaker assured that repetitive issues would not be allowed, and only explanations would be sought. He announced that zero hour matters would be addressed through points of order for the day.
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