Restoration of Assembly Traditions and Dignity: Delhi Speaker Vijender Gupta
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Synopsis
Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta hailed the order by Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena to end the first session of the 8th Delhi Assembly and open the second session from March 24 to March 28, marking a return to the dignity of constitutional and parliamentary practices.
Key Takeaways
- Assembly dignity restored under new government.
- First session concluded, second session scheduled.
- Three annual sessions to be held moving forward.
- Introduction of Question Hour and private member bills.
- Special sessions only under extraordinary circumstances.
New Delhi, March 11 (NationPress) - The Speaker of the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, announced on Tuesday that the directive from Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena to conclude the initial session of the 8th Delhi Assembly and initiate the subsequent session from March 24 to March 28 has reinstated the dignity of the Constitution, Assembly rules, and parliamentary traditions in Delhi.
He noted that the former AAP government had neglected constitutional mandates, legislative protocols, and parliamentary customs, turning the Delhi Assembly into merely a ceremonial forum.
It is customary for the Indian Parliament, along with all state legislatures, to hold three sessions each year - the Budget Session, Monsoon Session, and Winter Session. In addition, special sessions are convened under extraordinary conditions.
“However, during the five-year period of the 7th Delhi Assembly (2020-2025), only four sessions were held, and occasionally, sessions were called without formally concluding the prior ones. These sessions were frequently exploited for critiquing constitutional bodies and other state administrations,” he remarked.
With the new administration in place, the dignity and importance of the Assembly have been revived. The first session has now been officially concluded, and the second session - the Budget Session - has been formally planned.
He mentioned that moving forward, the Delhi Assembly will commit to the practice of holding three sessions yearly. These sessions will encompass Question Hour, deliberations on private member bills, and discussions on significant issues to ensure that the voices of Delhi’s populace are acknowledged. Special sessions will only be convened under unique situations.
A bulletin released by the Assembly secretariat on Monday confirmed that the second session of the Budget Session of the Delhi Assembly will commence on March 24 and continue until March 28, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta presenting the Budget 2025-26 on March 25.
Following the discussions on the Annual Budget on March 26, it is anticipated to be approved on March 27, as stated in a bulletin by the Assembly Secretariat. This bulletin also highlighted the reinstatement of the Question Hour and Private Members’ resolutions, which had been halted since the AAP administration in 2015.
For the transaction of business, Speaker Vijender Gupta has planned sessions on March 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28, in addition to issuing new guidelines for providing Visitors’ Gallery Passes.
The practice of Special Mention under Rule 280 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business will also be resumed, according to the bulletin.
