The Hindu : National : P.C. Thomas named, asked to leave Lok Sabha

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Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007
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P.C. Thomas named, asked to leave Lok Sabha

Special Correspondent

P.C. Thomas

NEW DELHI: Taking a tough stand over repeated disruptions and defiance of the Chair, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Tuesday named and asked a member P.C. Thomas to leave the House for indiscipline.

This is for the first time in the 14th Lok Sabha that a Member of Parliament has been named and asked to leave the House for repeatedly disobeying the Speaker.

Mr. Chatterjee asked Mr. Thomas (Indian Federal Democratic Party) to leave the House under Rule 373 after he insisted on a statement by the Government over the bifurcation of the Palghat Division of the Railways to create Salem Division in Tamil Nadu even though N.N. Krishnadas of the CPI (M) had raised the matter.

Mr. Thomas was firm on speaking despite an assurance from the Speaker that he would allow a discussion on Thursday if a proper notice was given. When Mr. Thomas refused to heed the Speaker’s request, he directed the Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee to move a motion of suspension under Rule 374. “I am compelled to name him [Mr. Thomas] under Rule 373 and direct you to withdraw from the House,” the Speaker said.

Mr. Thomas walked out of the House without tendering an apology for his behaviour that the Speaker sought to prevent suspension.

Earlier, the Speaker expressed sorrow and concern over the happenings in the House with some members indulging in unbecoming conduct and warned that all methods, as provided in the Rules would be applied to enforce minimum discipline, however painful that may be. The observations came a day after the members disrupted the proceedings when Prime Minister was making a statement on the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal.

“We cannot further allow the prestige of this great institution to be lowered in the eyes of its citizens by our own people, due to the totally inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour which is displayed in the House.”

The Speaker said that subject to the constraint of the rules and available time the House shall discuss all important issues which the members wished to raise. The members were certainly entitled to express their strong views on any matter but this should be in a manner permitted by the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.

Mr. Chatterjee’s observations came when the CPI (M) disrupted proceedings to seek a discussion on the issue of bifurcation of the railway division in Kerala that led to the House being adjourned for 20 minutes. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) walked out of the House over the Speaker’s remarks.

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