By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 17: KHNAM legislator from North Shillong constituency, Adelbert Nongrum on Thursday moved a breach of privileged notice against Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh.
It was rejected by a voice vote and Nongrum’s entire speech was expunged due to “unparliamentary content”.
Moving the notice, the MLA stated that during the introduction of the Meghalaya Agriculture Land Regulation Bill, 2022, he was ready to move a motion for leave as per the rule for consideration of the House. The matter was listed as item number 4(a).
The Speaker asked him to beg leave to introduce the bill but did not ask him to move a motion for leave to introduce the private member’s bill.
“I did as you said. I begged before your humble chair to introduce the bill quoting it by name but as we all know, Speaker Sir, you put a question before the House and the introduction of my private member’s bill was rejected by voice vote,” Nongrum said.
Stating that he does not have a problem with the vote, he complained that his privilege as a member of the House was breached when the Speaker specifically asked him to beg leave to introduce the bill.
Nongrum said he went through the entire rule book of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and there is no mention of “beg” anywhere except Rule 113 and that too for presenting a petition.
Asserting that his introduction was not a petition but a notice of motion for leave to introduce a private member’s bill, he said Rule 65(1) does not say “beg leave to introduce”.
“Speaker Sir, on March 8, 2022, at item no 4, why did you move away from the rule book and asked me to beg leave to introduce? Why did you not ask me to move a motion for leave to introduce? Speaker Sir, I consider your action against me that day a breach of privilege,” he said.
Nongrum said his right to speech as the legislator is guaranteed under Article 194 sub-section 1 of the Constitution but the Speaker had curtailed his constitutional right.
Leader of the Opposition, Mukul M Sangma moved a point of order in between Nongrum’s submission and said any allegations against the Speaker cannot be brought under the rule as quoted by the North Shillong MLA. If at all, it has to be brought in through relevant provisions of rules, he pointed out.
Sangma said that while he appreciates the rights of all the members, they must not under any circumstances allow an unhealthy precedent to be created with complete disregard to the rules of procedures and conduct of business and also a relevant provision of the Constitution of India.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong asked under which provision Nongrum had brought in the breach of privilege to the chair of the Speaker. He said if there is no provision it should be expunged totally and that the breach of privilege should be against the member.
The Speaker then put it through the voice vote and the breach of privileged notice was rejected.
“Under Rule 314 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, if any doubt arises as to the interpretation of any of the provisions of this rule, the decision of the Speaker shall be final. I also give my ruling that this privilege notice will not be a precedence,” he said.
The Speaker later expunged the proceeding.