Delhi Assembly to host Presiding Officers' panel meet on uniform legislature rules on Oct 27
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Delhi Legislative Assembly will host a key meeting of the Committee of Presiding Officers on 27 October 2026, bringing together legislative leaders from six states to deliberate on a proposed Uniform Model of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business for legislative bodies across India. Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta announced this on Sunday, calling the meeting an important step toward strengthening democratic institutions nationwide.
Background and Mandate
The committee was constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla with the specific mandate of formulating a standardised procedural framework for state legislatures. The initiative reflects a broader push by the Union's parliamentary leadership to harmonise the functioning of India's diverse legislative bodies, which currently operate under varying procedural rules inherited from different legislative traditions.
The meeting will be held under the chairmanship of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana. Speaker Vijender Gupta, who is a member of the committee, will deliver the welcome address.
Participating Legislatures and Speakers
The meeting will bring together Presiding Officers and representatives from the legislative assemblies of Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Delhi. Participating Speakers include Rahul Narwekar of Maharashtra, Kuldeep Singh Pathania of Himachal Pradesh, and Gurupadagouda Sanganagouda Patil of Karnataka, along with other committee members and officials representing each participating legislature.
What Will Be Discussed
The committee will deliberate on a draft report containing recommendations for the proposed Uniform Model Rules. Discussions are expected to centre on examining those recommendations, addressing issues requiring further deliberation, and building consensus on a common procedural framework. The draft report may also be taken up for consideration and adoption, subject to the outcome of the deliberations.
According to officials, the proposed framework is designed to support the orderly, transparent, and efficient conduct of legislative business while respecting the institutional requirements of individual legislatures — a balance that has reportedly been a subject of ongoing discussion within the committee.
Arrangements and Protocol
The Delhi Legislative Assembly Secretariat is coordinating logistics for visiting Presiding Officers and their delegations. Each participating delegation will be accompanied by a designated liaison officer to facilitate coordination and protocol. Committee members have been accorded the status of State Guests, with arrangements being made accordingly.
Significance and Next Steps
Speaker Gupta described the meeting as an important platform for consultation and coordination among legislative institutions on procedural practices and the strengthening of democratic traditions. The meeting is also expected to determine the next steps towards finalising the model rules and channelling the committee's recommendations through the appropriate institutional process. This comes amid a wider effort at the national level to modernise and unify parliamentary practice across Centre and state legislatures.