Porngate effect: Tamil Nadu Assembly bans cellphones

Chennai, Apr 10: The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday banned cellphones in the Assembly following the incidents of members watching porn inside the Karnataka and Gujarat assembly on their mobile phones.

According to Speaker D Jayakumar under Rule 87 sub-section (10) (Rules of Procedure of the Tamil Nadu Assembly), ministers, MLAs, media representatives, government officials, workers of the house have been refrained from bringing cell phones inside the Assembly hall.

The members have, however, been given BSNL smart cards worth Rs 100 through which they can make calls from the smart pay phones installed in the east and west corridors of the House, chambers of the DMK, restrooms for the MLAs and upper gallery meant for the media.

The members can also keep their mobile phones in the pigeon hole in the house's lobby. The validity of the smart cards is for a year and a talktime worth Rs 70.

On expiry of the talktime, the members are expected to recharge their cards on their own, said the speaker.

Following the incidents in Karnataka and Gujarat assembly, DMK member TRB Raja was suspended for 10 days for recording the proceedings of the house when there were some noisy scenes in the house.

OneIndia News