Over a year after turning paperless with the adoption of digitisation, Uttar Pradesh assembly is in the process of overhauling the rules which govern the conduct of its proceedings.
For implementing digitisation, UP assembly has already adopted eVidhan software.
A committee of 10 officers headed by Principal Secretary (UP Assembly) Pradeep Kumar Dube is drafting new rules to be called ‘Rules of Business for the Conduct of Proceedings of UP Assembly, 2023 to replace the Rules of Business for the Conduct of the Proceedings of Uttar Pradesh Assembly, 1958.
“Uttar Pradesh assembly is the first assembly in the country to take up the revision of the rules of business after 75 years of independence. The committee is working on several proposals like reducing the notice time of 24 days to seven days for convening the session of the state assembly,” said Pradeep Kumar Dube.
Besides, he added, the rules governing the tabling and passage of legislations were proposed to be amended so that the bills were passed only after meaningful debate in the House.
“The committee has completed nearly 70 per cent of its work. The final draft of the revised rules will be placed before the Rules Committee of the UP assembly headed by Speaker Satish Mahana. The Rules Committee, after examining the draft submitted by the committee of officials, will place the new rules before the House and it is likely to be adopted during the budget session of the UP assembly in February next,” Dube said.
“UP assembly rules drafted in 1958 are archaic and have become irrelevant after 65 years. The proceedings of the UP assembly have already been digitised and Uttar Pradesh is the first state in the country to present the paperless budget in May 2022. The state assembly has implemented the e-Vidhan software and the rules of business need to be amended accordingly,” Dube said.
With the introduction of an online system for conducting the proceedings of the assembly, replies to the questions tabled by the MLAs are answered on the tablets fixed before the seat of the member of the assembly.
The powers of the committees of the assembly are also proposed to be restricted. The committee can issue directions to the executive (government) for obtaining evidence and other information for conducting its proceedings.
“The committees in the past have exceeded their brief and one committee had issued a warrant for arresting an officer. It has been proposed that the committee will either seek the approval of the House or the consent of the assembly speaker before issuing directions to the government,” Pradeep Kumar Dube said.
The Question Hour of the UP assembly is proposed to be increased by 10 minutes. Presently the question hour begins at 11 am and ends at 12.20 pm. With the increase in time of the question hour more starred questions could be taken up. Presently only 20 starred and short notice questions are taken up, Besides, the members will be able to ask more supplementary questions during the question hour.
As per another proposal, the government will have to furnish an answer to the question tabled by the MLA within 15 days even if the House is adjourned sine die.
Another proposal before the 10-member committee is to fix the number of adjournment notices and their time during the day. It is also proposed to be determined by the committee. During the day earmarked for non-official business in the agenda, the disposal of resolutions tabled by the members is proposed to be made mandatory.