With the Karnataka legislature session scheduled to begin on September 13, Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri has said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and all Ministers must be present on all the 10 days.
Sharing the agenda of the session, Mr. Kageri on Wednesday said Ministers should not submit applications seeking permission for absence during the session. “It is not right on the part of Ministers to stay away from the session on the pretext of attending programmes in their constituencies. Ministers can remain absent during the session only on health grounds,” the Speaker said.
The absence of Ministers in the House has been raised by the Opposition frequently over the last few legislature sessions. This has led to questions related to multiple departments being fielded by one or two Ministers who were present.
He said that a best legislator award had been instituted to encourage legislators to actively participate in the session. Officials too should discharge their duties without seeking leave during the session, he said.
Citizens would be allowed to witness the proceedings of the House. However, considering the precautions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, he appealed to schools not to bring children to witness the proceedings. In the earlier sessions, public had not been allowed to witness the House proceedings from the gallery owing to precautions related to COVID-19. The session would comply with all COVID-19 protocols. A total of 18 Bills, including Ordinances promulgated by the government, would come up for discussion.
A joint session of both the Houses would be convened on the last day of the session on September 24 to discuss ways for prevention of disruption of proceedings. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla would be invited to speak on conduct and discipline, Mr. Kageri said.
A committee for drafting rules has been set up for ensuring peaceful conduct of the House proceedings. Mr. Bommai and Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah are members of the committee, he said.
