Gujarat, Haryana petition panels meet in Gandhinagar to strengthen legislative ties
Synopsis
The Petition Committees of Gujarat and Haryana held a rare joint session in Gandhinagar, pooling legislative experience to sharpen public grievance redressal. With both states invoking 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat', the meeting signals a quiet but meaningful push to make citizen-facing parliamentary mechanisms more effective and transparent.
Key Takeaways
The Petition Committees of Gujarat and Haryana Legislative Assemblies held a joint meeting in Gandhinagar on 29 June .
Deputy Speaker Purnesh Modi described the Petition Committee as a direct channel for citizens' grievances to reach the Legislative Assembly.
Haryana Petition Committee Chairman Vinod Bhayana said the exchange will enable more accurate and positive resolution of public issues.
Attendees included legislators and senior officials from both states, with Shakuntala Khatak , Lakshman Singh Yadav , and Chandra Prakash representing Haryana.
The meeting was framed under the 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' initiative, highlighting complementary strengths of both states.
The Petition Committees of the Gujarat and Haryana Legislative Assemblies convened a joint meeting in Gandhinagar on Monday, 29 June, to share parliamentary practices and explore more effective mechanisms for the transparent redressal of public grievances. The session, held at the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, marked a significant step in inter-state legislative cooperation under the 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' framework.
Key Developments
Deputy Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, Purnesh Modi, set the tone for the meeting by highlighting the complementary strengths of both states. He noted that Haryana is widely recognised for its sporting achievements and valour, while Gujarat has earned global standing for its entrepreneurial spirit, business outlook, and cultural diversity.
'Both states have made significant contributions to India's democratic journey,' Purnesh Modi said, underlining the shared democratic ethos that makes such exchanges productive.
Role of the Petition Committee
Emphasising the committee's mandate, Purnesh Modi described the Petition Committee as 'an effective platform for carrying the voice of the people directly to the Legislative Assembly by hearing citizens' grievances and taking concrete steps towards their resolution.' He added that both states' committees share a common commitment to parliamentary transparency and public issue resolution.
Haryana Petition Committee Chairman Vinod Bhayana echoed this, stating that the principal purpose of inter-state visits of this nature is to strengthen the parliamentary system through the exchange of ideas and working practices. 'This process will further strengthen relations between the two states and allow more accurate, positive and appropriate resolution of public grievances and issues brought before the committees, thereby giving greater momentum to people-centric work,' Bhayana said.
Participants and Representation
The meeting brought together a cross-section of legislators and senior officials from both states. From Haryana, attendees included Petition Committee members Shakuntala Khatak, Lakshman Singh Yadav, and Chandra Prakash. Gujarat was represented by MLAs Manu Patel and Kalu Dabhi, alongside senior secretariat officials including Joint Secretary Rita Mehta, Deputy Secretary Chirag Patel, and Petition Committee Secretary and Deputy Secretary Parth Prajapati.
Broader Significance
Participants at the meeting stressed the importance of deepening ties between Gujarat and Haryana in the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' — a Central government initiative aimed at fostering unity through inter-state cultural and institutional exchanges. Notably, such inter-committee visits are relatively rare and signal a growing recognition that legislative best practices need not be developed in isolation. The discussion is expected to inform future committee procedures in both assemblies, with a particular focus on improving citizen-facing grievance redressal timelines.
Point of View
But they quietly shape how citizens' complaints are processed and resolved. The Gujarat-Haryana Petition Committee meeting is notable for its procedural ambition — both states appear to be acknowledging that their grievance redressal mechanisms need external benchmarking, not just internal review. The invocation of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' also points to a broader Centre-driven push to institutionalise such cross-state learning. Whether these conversations translate into measurable improvements in grievance resolution timelines, however, will depend on follow-through that rarely gets the same attention as the meetings themselves.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of the Gujarat-Haryana Petition Committee joint meeting?
The joint meeting, held in Gandhinagar on 29 June, aimed to facilitate the exchange of parliamentary practices and strengthen mechanisms for the transparent redressal of public grievances. Representatives from both states discussed their respective working procedures to improve legislative processes.
What is a Petition Committee in a state legislative assembly?
A Petition Committee is a standing committee of a state legislative assembly that receives and examines petitions submitted by citizens, providing a formal channel for public grievances to reach elected representatives. It plays a key role in ensuring accountability and transparency in governance.
Who attended the Gandhinagar inter-state legislative meeting?
The meeting was attended by Haryana Petition Committee members Shakuntala Khatak, Lakshman Singh Yadav, and Chandra Prakash; Gujarat MLAs Manu Patel and Kalu Dabhi; and senior Gujarat Legislative Assembly Secretariat officials including Joint Secretary Rita Mehta, Deputy Secretary Chirag Patel, and Parth Prajapati.
What is the 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' initiative referenced at the meeting?
'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' is a Central government initiative designed to promote unity and mutual understanding among Indian states through cultural, educational, and institutional exchanges. At the Gandhinagar meeting, participants invoked it to frame the Gujarat-Haryana legislative cooperation.
What outcomes are expected from the Gujarat-Haryana Petition Committee exchange?
Participants indicated that the exchange of ideas and working practices would help both committees resolve public grievances more accurately and efficiently. The discussions are expected to inform future committee procedures in both assemblies, particularly around citizen-facing redressal timelines.
