Uncertainty over Budget presentation after Ahamed’s death

"This is a convention that developed after members and successive governments deliberated on the matter."

Picture shows Finance Minister Arun Jaitley along with his budget team before meeting the President ahead of Union Budget 2016-17, in New Delhi. Photo: PTI

With the passing away of former Union minister E. Ahamed after he suffered a collapse during President Pranab Mukherjee's customary address to the joint Houses of Parliament, a question mark hangs over the presentation of the Union Budget scheduled on Wednesday.

Speaking to The Hindu , former secretary of the Lok Sabha P.D.T. Achary said that adjourning the House after the death of a sitting MP was a convention rather than a rule.

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"This is a convention that developed after members and successive governments deliberated on the matter. The main aspect to adjourning the House is to show respect to the sitting member and if that member has died in Delhi, to allow Parliament colleagues to pay their homage to the departed soul," he said.

He added that in today's situation, a way out could be that the Speaker convene the House at 11a.m. to offer obituary referrences and adjourn it till 5 p.m.. "Till a few years back the Union Budget used to be read at 5p.m.. That could be done with now," he said.

Mr. Ahamed's family members have said that his body would be flown to Kerala late afternoon. Sources in Parliament said that no call had been taken as yet on the presentation of the Budget.