Procedural Flaws Found in Opposition's Notice Against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
Officials from the Lok Sabha Secretariat have identified significant procedural shortcomings in a notice submitted by Opposition Members of Parliament seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla. According to sources familiar with the matter, the notice contained deficiencies that could have justified its rejection under parliamentary rules. However, in a move demonstrating procedural adherence, Speaker Om Birla has instructed officials to rectify these flaws and advance the process in accordance with established regulations.
Notice Criticized for Repeated References to February 2025 Events
Lok Sabha Secretariat officials highlighted that the Opposition's notice included repeated mentions of events from February 2025. This detail was flagged as a potential violation of parliamentary protocol that could have served as grounds for dismissal under the rulebook. Instead of rejecting the notice outright, Speaker Om Birla reportedly ordered expedited corrective action to address these deficiencies.
"Om Birla has ordered expeditious action in accordance with the rules. The notice will be listed after the commencement of the second phase of the Budget Session. After receiving the revised notice, it will be examined promptly as per the prescribed rules," officials stated, as quoted by ANI.
Motion Expected During Second Half of Budget Session
Discussions regarding the no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla are anticipated to be scheduled for March 9, which marks the first day of the second segment of the Budget Session. This timeline follows the Speaker's directive to process the corrected notice through proper parliamentary channels.
Congress Submits Notice Citing Rule 94C
The Congress party formally submitted the notice on Tuesday, asserting that they adhered to parliamentary procedure under Rule 94C. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi confirmed, "At 1:14 pm today, we submitted a motion for a no-confidence motion against the Speaker under rule 94C rules and procedures." Party sources indicated that 118 MPs had endorsed the notice, demonstrating substantial Opposition support for the initiative.
Opposition Alleges "Blatantly Partisan" Conduct by Speaker
Opposition MPs have framed their notice as a direct response to what they describe as persistent and politically biased conduct from the Speaker's chair. Specific grievances include claims that leaders of Opposition parties were systematically prevented from speaking in the House. The notice references four key incidents:
- Allegations that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was barred from speaking during the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address. Gandhi had sought to reference former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane's unpublished memoir while discussing the 2020 standoff with China.
- The suspension of eight MPs from parliamentary proceedings.
- Comments by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, characterized as "objectionable and personalised attacks" against former Prime Ministers.
- A statement attributed to Speaker Birla, where he reportedly urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to avoid attending the House to prevent an "unpleasant incident" after receiving information that some Congress MPs might approach the Prime Minister's seat.
TMC Advocates for Appeal Before Motion, Offers Conditional Support
The Trinamool Congress has adopted a more measured approach, suggesting that the Opposition should first submit a formal appeal to the Speaker before escalating to a no-confidence motion. Senior leader Abhishek Banerjee stated on Tuesday that the party would consider signing the notice if Speaker Birla failed to address the Opposition's appeal within two to three days, indicating conditional support based on procedural outcomes.
This development underscores the ongoing tensions within India's parliamentary framework, highlighting both procedural rigor and political contention as the Budget Session progresses.
