The Hindu : National : Leaders agree on `100 Parliament sittings a year'

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Saturday, Feb 24, 2007
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National

National

Leaders agree on `100 Parliament sittings a year'

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The move to increase the number of sittings of Parliament to at least 100 days in a year got the go-ahead with leaders of various political parties agreeing to the proposal. However, there was no forward movement on another suggestion to throw open proceedings of Parliamentary Committees to the media.

At an all-party meeting called by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, party leaders agreed to the suggestion that was being vigorously pursued by Communist Party of India leader Gurudas Dasgupta.

"It is a turning point and seeks to reverse the trend of declining number of sittings of Parliament," Mr. Dasgupta told The Hindu. He said while the number of sittings was over 100 days earlier, its started reducing in the mid-70s and hovered around 70 to 80 days in a year during the NDA regime.

On the demand for having 100 sittings, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said there was no objection to the move but said it should be the right of the Government to fix the number of sittings. He also said there should be no constitutional amendment to ensure it.

He said the Government was prepared to have a minimum of 100 days sitting of Parliament, but suggested that State Assemblies too increase their number of sittings and at the same time it should be ensured that the proceedings were conducted smoothly and more legislative business transacted.

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