''Suspend MLAs if they jump onto Speaker''s podium, disturb''

Bangalore, Jan 13 (PTI) A Karnataka Assembly Committeehas recommended suspension of the members for rest of the termin the House if they climbed onto the Speaker''s podium anddisturbed proceedings in future.

The Committee was constituted to probe the unrulyscenes witnessed during the election of Speaker on December30, 2009.

The report of the committee, chaired by BJP MLA DHemachandra Sagar, was tabled in the Assembly today amidst adharna by Opposition Congress and JD-S members.

The panel said former minister and JD-S MLA B Z ZameerAhmed Khan, Congress'' Rahim Khan and Kakasaheb PatilPanduranga and H C Balakrishna of the JD-S climbed onto theSpeaker''s podium, pulled the microphone and its wires when NYogish Bhat was presiding over the proceedings to elect theSpeaker.

In the midst of the unruly scenes, K G Bopaiah, thethen Deputy Speaker, was declared elected as the Speaker.

Opposition Congress and JD-S had asked the governmentto postpone the election as a mark of respect to Kannada actorVishnuvardhan, who died on December 30 and in the light of theHouse being adjourned after paying homage to him.

The panel recommended constitution of an EthicsCommittee by amending rules concerned to ensure disciplineamong members during session.

Members have every right to draw the attention of theGovernment by rushing into Well of the House but such protestshould not last more than 2-3 minutes, it said.

In case of protests lasting more than that stipulatedtime, the matter should be referred to the ethics committee,the panel noted.