TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Expressing strong reservations against codification of privileges, Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday asked the All India Whip’s Conference to ensure that Parliament privileges is beyond judicial approach.
He also batted for bungalows, perks and salaries for the MPs and MLAs to meet “extra expenses”, saying that an elected representative will not be able to deliver if he has no good source of income.
Addressing the 16th All India Whip’s Conference at a starred resort at Cavelossim, Parrikar came out openly against codification of privileges. Citing the Subrata Roy’s case, Parrikar said “how do you allow Assembly or Parliament privileges to be questioned in the judiciary. I have my own question on this. Parliament is capable of taking very responsible decisions. If you consider Parliament to be irresponsible, than there is nothing left because that is the highest body of the country.”
Dwelling at length on codification, Parrikar said he personally feels that Parliament should not use the privilege except when a Member of Parliament is being threatened not to express in the House and when there is factually wrong reporting. “Don’t codify the privileges, but ensure that Parliament privileges are beyond judicial approach. If Judicial contempt is beyond Parliament approach, I fail to understand why Parliament privileges should be within judicial approach,” he asserted.
Favouring harmonious relations between ruling and opposition members, Parrikar said, “In Goa, we are 40 members and we have to keep relations with each other.”
He said that one should not be afraid to pay the MPs better, saying “if you throw peanuts, you will only get monkeys. I have been supporting better pay to the MPs from day one. Once an MLA, he is virtually devoid of any other income, unless he has settled business, family business or fixed deposit or has a wife with a rich father. Unless you have a good source of income, you cannot deliver. How will a MP go to Parliament without a bungalow or a car in Delhi.”
Saying that MLAs in Goa have to shell out an extra Rs 2-3 lakh every month on the people, the Chief Minster said the MLAs should be paid well to cover the expenses incurred on the people.
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‘3 organs of democracy should
function within the Constitution’
MARGAO: The 16th All India Whip’s Conference has recommended that each House should consider Codification of privileges to remove uncertainty, even as Union Information Minister, Prakash Javadekar felt that the three organs of democracy – the Judiciary, the Legislature and the Executive – should respect each other and function within their well defined Constitutional roles.
Addressing the media at the end of the two-day conference, Javadekar said the conference has decided to recommend codification to remove uncertainty and with a view to address the anxieties of the people and the press. “A panel of names drawn from members attending the conference may be decided by the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs which will attempt to codify privileges and then pursue them with Presiding Officers to be adopted by respective Houses,” he said.
He said the conference has recommended fixing number of working days of sessions in a year for various legislatures. “The Legislature which has 40 and below Legislators should meet for minimum 40 days in an year and those Legislative Assemblies which have a strength of more than 40 should meet for a minimum period of 70 days. The panel has recommended 100 minimum days for the Parliament. This has to be done after interaction with leaders of political parties and Speakers of respective Houses,” he added.
While expressing concern over indiscipline and lack of decorum in the Houses, the conference resolved that Chief Whips and Whips of all parties should ensure discipline in their party within the House without becoming a barrier to the expression of different image as well as the prestige of Parliament.
