Speaker issues attendance advisory to House Committees

Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta has issued advisories to members of various House Committees of the Eighth Legislative Assembly. He called for regular attendance and active participation in committee proceedings. In a parallel move, the General Administration Department (GAD) of the Delhi Government has directed senior officers to mandatorily attend committee meetings when summoned.

The steps are aimed at strengthening the committee oversight mechanism of the Delhi Legislative Assembly and improving coordination between the legislature and the executive.

Issuing the advisory on Sunday, Speaker Gupta said House Committees are the “working pillars of legislative oversight,” and their effectiveness depends on the seriousness and sustained engagement of members. He stressed that regular participation and informed discussions are essential to ensure that committee recommendations are comprehensive and well considered.

The Speaker underlined that committees play a key role in examining governance issues, administrative functioning and matters related to public accountability. He said meaningful engagement in committee meetings enhances institutional functioning and contributes to better decision-making.

The advisory also highlighted the importance of the presence of senior officers from concerned departments during committee proceedings. According to the communication, committee discussions often require detailed presentations and factual inputs from departments. The participation of the most senior officers helps in substantive deliberations and speeds up the process of arriving at conclusions.

In a related development, the General Administration Department of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi has issued a circular to all administrative secretaries. The circular directs them to attend sittings of House Committees whenever called upon by the Assembly Secretariat.

The GAD has stated that in unavoidable circumstances, a suitably senior officer who is fully conversant with the subject matter may be deputed. However, this must be done with prior approval to ensure that proceedings are not affected.

The department has also instructed administrative secretaries to ensure the timely submission of information and records sought by the committees.

Officials said the circular is intended to facilitate smoother coordination between departments and legislative committees. The GAD had earlier issued similar instructions to streamline communication between the Executive and the Legislature.

The latest measures are part of a broader effort by the Assembly leadership to make committee functioning more effective and result-oriented. Committees of the House are tasked with examining detailed aspects of governance that cannot always be fully debated on the floor of the Assembly.

By emphasising attendance, preparedness and senior-level representation, the Speaker’s office aims to ensure that committee meetings lead to informed recommendations and stronger accountability mechanisms.