Akbar Owaisi opposes changes in legislature rules

Hyderabad, Jan 16 (INN): Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi has strongly opposed the decisions taken by the Committee on Rules of the Telangana State Legislative Assembly.

In a letter written to the Secretary of Telangana State Legislature on Friday, Akbaruddin Owaisi said that he could not attend the Committee's meeting held on January 6 as he is undergoing treatment in London. "I came to know through the media that several key decisions were taken at the meeting, where some ministers and representatives of AIMIM and two other parties were not present," he said.

Among other things, Akbaruddin Owaisi said that the Committee is said to have decided the reduce the days allotted for debate on the Motion of Thanks for the Governor's Address and the General Discussion on Budget to four days each.

The entire budget session is to be wound up in 20 days of sittings, as against the usual 29 days of sittings. "I would like to point out that this meeting was held for framing the rules to run the House but, unfortunately, the Committee took decisions on restricting the sittings of the august House.

As per convention, it is the Business Advisory Committee that recommends the time that should be allocated for the discussions on the Bills and other business of the House and the number of days that the House shall meet," he said.

"I may point out that as per Rule 12 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business (of undivided AP Legislature), the Assembly shall sit on such days as the Speaker, having regard to the state of business of the Assembly, may from time to time direct.

Rule 18 states that the Speaker shall, in consultation with the BAC, allot time for the discussion on the matters referred to in the Governor's address to the House under Article 176 (1) of the Constitution. As per Rule 151 (3), six days shall be allotted for the general discussion on the Budget and eight days for the voting of demands for grants," the MIM leader said.

Akbaruddin Owaisi said that the Rules could not be summarily changed and the powers and functions of the Business Advisory Committee cannot be taken away in this manner. Moreover, he said that the Rules of Procedure provide for the constitution of 18 Legislature committees, apart from the BAC.

"However, from the media reports, I learn that the Rules Committee meeting on 6th January decided to reduce the number of Legislature Committees to only 12. This is unfair. I strongly object to the decisions purportedly taken at the meeting of the Rules Committee," he said.

The MIM leader said that the creation of a new State does not mean that the legislative procedures could be shortened or the number of legislature committees reduced because the right of members for thorough debates could not be curtailed and the subjects that the committees deal with are not going to disappear.

He urged the Secretary to keep the decisions taken at meeting of Rules Committee in abeyance till the matters are discussed thoroughly at the forthcoming meetings of the Committee.