New Delhi – Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will recuse himself from presiding over the House as the Indian Parliament prepares to debate a motion of no confidence brought against him by the opposition, parliamentary sources confirmed Tuesday.
The decision, described by sources close to Birla as a demonstration of ethical conduct, comes after opposition parties formally submitted the notice of no confidence. The motion is expected to be taken up for discussion on March 9th, the first day of the second part of the budget session, according to reports.
While there is no constitutional requirement for the Speaker to abstain from the House during the consideration of the motion, Birla has chosen to do so. Sources indicate he is unlikely to be persuaded to reconsider, even if requested by either the government or the opposition.
According to Article 96(1) of the Indian Constitution, the Speaker cannot preside over a meeting while a resolution for their removal is under consideration. Although, the Speaker retains the right to attend proceedings and participate in debates, allowing them to defend against the allegations. In such instances, the Speaker would relinquish the chair.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore, in a statement, framed the motion as an extraordinary step taken in response to consistent denials of opportunities for opposition members to raise issues of public importance. “The constitutional propriety has been respected by the opposition. While respecting the honorable Speaker personally, we are pained and saddened by the constant denial of opportunities to raise issues of public importance by the opposition MPs. After years, a no-confidence notice has been moved against the Speaker – an unusual step born out of unusual circumstances,” Tagore wrote.
The motion requires the support of at least fifty Members of Parliament to be admitted. Once that threshold is met, the Chair may allow a discussion on the resolution.