Speakers advocates 'right to recall'

Chandigarh, Sep 21 (UNI) Taking strong exception to corrupt ways and criminal acts of elected representatives, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today advocated the 'right to recall' them before the expiry of their term.

''Today, justifiably, there is a growing demand to introduce a sytem of 'recall' to deal with elected representatives who ignore the interests of the people and are guilty of malfesance and improper conduct or indulge in corrupt or criminal activities,'' he said in his inaugural address at the 73rd Conference of Presiding officers of Legislative Bodies in India here.

The right to recall, he said, was based on the principle that elected members of representatives bodies should be accountable and answerable to their constituents at all the times, both inside and outside the legislatures.

''If a member is found to be insensitive, incompetent, corrupt, indifferent to the people, his duties or indulge in criminal activities, I feel, his constituents should be in a position to demand his recall before the expiry of the term,'' Mr Chatterjee said.

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