Speaker defends ruling, says it was according to rules

New Delhi, Mar 18 (UNI) Delhi Assembly Speaker Prem Singh today said his decision to disallow voting on Public Accounts Committee report on 'Smart Cards' issued by state Transport Department, was based only on rules and regulations and had nothing to do with ''politics''.

On March 10, in what was seen a jolt to the Sheila Dikshit government, Mr Singh had disallowed voting on PAC report on 'Smart Cards' issued by state Transport Department that suggested there were irregularities in the process and recommended CBI probe into the matter.

Briefing the media today about the just-concluded Budget Session of the state Assembly, he denied charges that he favoured or acted against the government or the opposition but merely followed the Assembly rules and regulations.

''There is not question of favouring anybody or party or comming under pressure from any quarter and I discharged my duty impartially.'' Since its inception in 1993, reports in the house were tabled in the Assembly, which were then passed by the members unanimously.

However, the Speaker broke this tradition after he received a letter from BJP MLA S S Chauhan and NCP MLA R S Bidhuri that rules did not allow any voting on such reports that were deemed to be passed as soon as the committees passed it and there was no need to put them before the Assembly once again.

It did not matter all this while as there was no voting in the house on such reports untill now, he said and added but on this occasion a whip had been issued by the ruling party to ensure that the report was not approved.

On March 10, the Speaker said there would be neither be a formal motion before the House nor voting on the report, which was listed for adpotion by the House.

House committee was like 'mini house' and its reports was not to be discussed again in the House and had to be accepted as it was, he said.

Hence, the report was accepted as it is without any discussion, much to the discomfort of the government.

His ruling assumed importance as a 'whip' had been issued to Congress MLAs to vote against the report when it was put to vote.

Mr Chauhan and Mr Bidhuri had brought it to the notice of the chair that the rules prevented any voting or discussion on a report of a house committee.

Today he also denied that he was too hard on the opposition, ordering them out many times during the 12-day session.

The proceedings had to be conducted as per the agenda and my work was to ensure just that... action was taken against any member belonging to any party who disturbed smooth running of the business of the House, he added.

UNI IP SB KN1618