Arun Kr. Upreti, Speaker and Sangay Lepcha, Deputy Speaker, Sikkim Legislative Assembly accompanied by Senior Officers of Sikkim Legislative Assembly Secretariat attended 83rd All India Presiding Officers’ Conference held at Jaipur, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from 10th to 13th January, 2023.
The Conference was inaugurated by Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President of India also the Chairman of Rajya Sabha on 11th January, 2023.
The inaugural function was also addressed by Om Birla, Speaker, Lok Sabha and Chairman of the 83rd All India Presiding Officers’ Conference, Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Harivansh Narayan Singh, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, G.C. Kataria, Leader of Opposition, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, Dr. C.P. Joshi, Speaker, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.
The Conference deliberated on the following topics:
1) Leadership of India in G-20 as the mother of democracy,
2) The need to maintain harmonious relationship between the Legislature and the Judiciary in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution,
3) The need to make Parliament and Legislature more effective, accountable and productive and
4) Integration of State Legislatures with Digital Parliament.
The Presiding Officers’ of different states took part on the deliberations and shared their viewpoint on the agenda topic.
Arun Kr. Upreti, Speaker, Sikkim Legislative Assembly also participated in the deliberations and briefly shared his views on all the topics. Upreti highlighted pertinent issues and also suggested a way forward. He also congratulated the Prime Minister, Government of India for being opportune of Leadership of India in G-20 as the mother of democracy.
At the beginning, the House also observed 2 minutes silence on passing away of Presiding Officers’ and the Secretaries of State Legislatures.
The discussion session was presided over by Speaker, Lok Sabha and the Speaker, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.
On 12th January, 2023, the Conference continued the discussion session and also passed the following resolutions unanimously;
Resolution 1.
The 83rd All India Presiding Officers’ Conference felicitate the Government of India and the Parliament of India on the assumption of Chair of the Group of 20 nations and Parliament-20, and resolve to extend full support to projection of India as ‘Mother of Democracy’ and a global leader in the cause of equity, inclusivity, fraternity, peace and sustainable life style.
Resolution 2.
The 83rd All India Presiding Officer’s’ Conference reaffirms it’s complete faith in the primacy of the people of India in law making through the legislative bodies of the nation and while reposing confidence in the principle of separation of powers, exhorts all organs of State to respect the Constitutional boundaries enshrined in the Constitution of India.
Resolution 3.
Recognising the exemplary conduct of Members of the Constituent Assembly in resolving contentious issues facing a new independent nation through debate, discussion, and in the spirit of cooperation, understanding and accommodation of divergent shades of opinion, the 83rd All India Presiding Officers’ Conference resolve that Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of legislative bodies be reviewed comprehensively and more uniform Rules be formulated incorporating best practices in order to secure functioning of the Houses of legislative; and that Code of Conduct for Members be introduced in the Rules for bringing about an effective check against indecorous and unparliamentary conduct.
Resolution 4.
Acknowledging the significance of seeking answers from the Government to questions of Members as a time tested instrument for enforcing executive accountability in our legislative bodies, the 83rd All India Presiding Officers’ Conference call upon all political parties to build consensus among themselves against any disruption in the Houses of legislative particularly during Question Hour.
Resolution 5.
Recognizing the role of Committees as engines of our Legislature, the 83rd All India Presiding Officers’ Conference call upon all legislative bodies in India to take meaningful steps to empower the Committee System and expand breadth and scope of scrutiny of executive action.
Resolution 6.
For realisation of financial autonomy in managing the affairs of State Legislatures, the 83rd All India Presiding Officers’ Conference solemnly resolve that Chairman AIPOC be authorised to Conduct wide ranging consultations with State Governments.
Resolution 7.
The 83rd All India Presiding Officers’ Conference resolve that legislative bodies in India will take all steps to join the National Digital Grid for Legislative Bodies in the interest of greater efficiency, transparency and inter-connectedness.
Resolution 8.
To recognise efforts made for encouraging effective and qualitative participation of Members and supporting higher productivity in the business of the Houses of legislature, the 83rd All India Presiding Officers Conference reaffirm its resolve to institute an annual Best Legislature Award for legislative bodies to be selected through an objective criteria based mechanism.
Resolution 9.
The 83rd All India Presiding Officers Conference resolve to take all possible steps for education of all sections of the population, particularly women and youth, in constitutional provisions, legislative practices and procedures.
The 83rd All India Presiding Officers Conference was concluded with valedictory function graced by Kalraj Mishra, Governor of Rajasthan as Chief Guest and was also addressed by Om Birla, Speaker, Lok Sabha, Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Dr C.P Joshi, Speaker, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, Harivansh, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha and the vote of thanks was proposed by Gulab Chand Kataria, Leader of Opposition, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.
After the function, the delegates of Sikkim called on Speaker, Lok Sabha and Speaker, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly and also visited Constitution Park, at Raj Bhawan, Jaipur, Rajasthan.
(Press Release from Sikkim Legislative Assembly Secretariat)
