Parliamentary secretaries can take part in Assembly debate

Shillong, Nov 10 (UNI) Parliamentary Secretaries in Meghalaya now can take part in the discussions on motions and resolutions in the House, Assembly Speaker Bindo M Lanong said today.

The Speaker informed the House that the cabinet meeting held on November 7 had decided to allow the Parliamentary secretaries to take part in debate and discussion in the state Assembly.

He said there are states which allowed the parliamentary secretaries to take part in debate and discussion in Assembly and hence, the matter was referred to the state cabinet for a final decision.

In the last March session, the Opposition members had raised objection, when Parliamentary Secretary Ampareen Lyngdoh participated in the discussion of a cut-motion related to the Health and Family Welfare department.

The Congress legislators then argued that as per the provisions of the conduct of the business of the House, a parliamentary secretary was equivalent to a minister of state or deputy minister, and therefore, they cannot participate in the discussion.

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