Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, August 31: Speaker Niranjan Pujari appeared before Governor SC Jamir at Raj Bhawan here Monday to brief him about the affairs during the monsoon session that concluded Saturday.
Sources said Jamir had summoned the Speaker after the Opposition Congress submitted a memorandum to the former alleging that the rules of procedure were not followed insofar as conduct of business in the House is concerned.
A group of Congress legislators led by leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra had met the Governor Saturday and submitted the memorandum in which they had alleged that Orissa Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill was passed even though the House had agreed to bring amendments to it. They had also alleged that their voice was suppressed in the Assembly and four bills were passed when the House was not in order.
Pujari spent about 45 minutes with the Governor and apprised him of the happenings in the House.
“It was a courtesy call,” said Speaker Niranjan Pujari, adding, “Discussions were held as per the democratic norms.”
Highly-placed sources said the Governor discussed three important issues with the Speaker – whether due procedure was followed during amendment to certain clauses in the land bill; whether opposition members were given adequate scope to discuss the bill; whether the House proceedings carried out as per norms and details about former DGP Prakash Mishra case in which the Speaker had expunged certain portions of the House proceedings.
The Opposition Congress had even urged the Governor not to approve four bills which were passed by the House in their absence August 27.
While the Governor will take appropriate steps after examining the points, experts on parliamentary affairs say the Governor can either approve the bills or send the ones having national importance to the President of India. He may also write a note to the Assembly for further discussion on those bills.
Congress MLA Prafulla Majhi said they hope the Governor will deliver justice to them as their voice was stifled by the treasury bench members.
Meanwhile, the ruling party chief whip Ananta Das said the Opposition had been given adequate scope to participate in discussions. However, he remained tightlipped on the Speaker’s meet with the Governor.