Lok Sabha Speaker Says Chair Represents Dignity of the House, Not an Individual

Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, said on Thursday that the House functions strictly according to its rules and procedures and will continue to do so in the future, regardless of whether all members agree with them or not. He assured members that he would conduct the proceedings of the House with complete honesty and impartiality. Birla made the remarks a day after a proposal seeking his removal from the Speaker’s post failed in the House. He emphasized that the Speaker’s chair does not belong to any individual but represents the dignity and prestige of the House. He also expressed gratitude to members for the trust they showed during the debate and thanked those who spoke both in support of him and against him. Assurance of Fair and Transparent Conduct Amid desk-thumping by members of the ruling side, Birla reiterated that the House operates under established rules and regulations and will continue to follow them. He said he would continue to perform his duties with full honesty and fairness while presiding over the proceedings. Thursday marked the first time Birla chaired the House after the notice seeking to remove him from the Speaker’s position was given during the first part of the Indian Parliament Budget Session, which concluded on February 13. The second part of the session began on March 9. Response to Concerns Raised by Members During the debate held over the past two days, some members had raised concerns that the Leader of the Opposition was not being given sufficient opportunities to speak in the House. They argued that the opposition leader should be allowed to speak whenever they wish and on any issue. Responding to these concerns, Birla said that Members of Parliament are free to express their views in the House, but they must follow the established rules and procedures of parliamentary functioning. He also addressed allegations that microphones are switched off when some members attempt to speak. Birla clarified that he does not have any switch to turn microphones on or off. According to him, microphones are activated only when a member is formally permitted by the Speaker to speak. Immediately after delivering his remarks, Birla adjourned the proceedings of the Lok Sabha until 2 pm.