Commotion in the House on Day 1 of Budget session, over allegedly late replies to Members’ questions

Team Herald

PORVORIM: The Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Ramesh Tawadkar on Monday directed the State government to ensure that the information to the questions tabled by the MLAs, are 

provided 48-hours before the questions are slated for answer.

There was commotion in the State Legislative Goa 

Assembly on the first day of the brief Budget session on Monday, over alleged late replies received.

Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao raised a point of order over last-minute information provided to the Members. He said that during the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting, it was agreed that under Rule 42 of the Procedure and Conduct of the Business, replies to LAQs (Legislative Assembly Questions) should be provided to the Members 48 hours before the day’s session. Alemao complained that he had received the replies in the form of a CD just on Monday, a few hours before the commencement of the session.

To this, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant contended that the information sought by the Opposition Leader was 

voluminous, while Legislative Affairs Minister Nilesh Cabral argued that the answers were uploaded on Saturday, March 25.

Following this, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar directed the State government to ensure that the 

information to the LAQ tabled by the MLAs, are provided 48 hours before the  questions are slated for answers in the House.

Later, the Speaker told media persons that he enquired with his Secretary (Legislature), who informed him that the replies were provided to the Opposition Leader on Saturday. “I enquired with the Legislature Secretary, and I was told that the information was given to him on Saturday itself. He (Yuri) was doing it purposely. It could be the strategy (of opposition),” he said, adding that he has also instructed his legislature staff to submit the information received from the government departments, on time.