Orissa: Speaker reserves ruling on privilege notice

Bhubaneswar, Apr 2: Orissa Assembly Speaker Maheswar Mohanty today reserved his ruling on the privilege notice signed by 36 MLAs against State Election Commissioner Sanjeeb Chandra Hota for allegedly ''tarnishing'' the dignity of the House.

BJD MLA Damodar Rout had moved the notice against the SEC stating that the latter by directing the police to lodge an FIR against the Speaker for violation of model code of conduct, lowered the dignity of the House as well as the image of the Speaker.

Raising the issue, Mr Rout said the notice has been signed by as many as 36 MLAs who felt that the action of the SEC had tarnished the image of the Assembly.

He said the SEC had directed to lodge the FIR against the Speaker when the Crime Branch inquiry into the violation of model code of conduct by the Speaker had not begun.

Congress Chief Whip Satya Bhusan Sahoo though supported the privilege notice, however, said the Assembly has no power for impeachment of the SEC.

Orissa Gana Parishad member Arun Dey also supported the move.

Deputy Speaker Prahallad Dora, who was on the chair at that time, however, ruled that he would like to hear from others only after the Professional Educational Institutions Bill 2007 was debated in the House.

Congress Deputy Leader Narashingha Mishra opposed the move to bring privilege notice against the SEC. He dubbed the notice against the SEC as unfortunate and asked the members to think whether it was proper to discuss on a person who is not a member of the house.

The Speaker, however, reserved his ruling and adjourned the house adjourned sine die.

UNI

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