Speaker calls all-party meet on govt-Guv stand off on session

Lucknow, Jan 11 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey has called an all-party meeting tomorrow to discuss the stand off between the state government and Raj Bhawan on the reconvening of the assembly on January 15.

''I have invited Leader of the House Mulayam Singh Yadav, Leader of the Opposition Lalji Tandon (BJP) and legislature party leaders of all political parties tomorrow at 1100 hrs to discuss the situation,'' Mr Pandey said.

He retierated that so far he has not received any communication from Raj Bhawan on prorogation of the monsoon session by Governor T V Rajeshwar, ''but if I get the file, I have no problems in notifying that the session has been prorogued,'' he explained.

''Since there has so far been no communication from the Governor, I have the right to reconvene the assembly,'' he said quoting Rule 17 of assembly proceedings.

The speaker also quoted a Supreme Court judgement in which it is mentioned till the time the Speaker notifies, the approval of the Governor to prorogue the session has no meaning.

He said the decision of the state cabinet to roll back its earlier January 3 decision to prorogue the assembly was well within the constitutional rights of the government and no one can challenge it.

The government has the right to reconvene the assembly from January 15 as the notification to prorogue the House is yet to be issued, he added.

''The decision to reconvene the house was taken on January 9, while it has been said that Governor has given his assent to the order to prorogue it on January 10,'' Mr Pandey added.

Earlier, the ruling Samajwadi party leaders said the Governor's decision to prorogue the House has no legal sanctity till the notification for the same was issued by the Speaker.

UNI