New Delhi, Aug 6: Turning down the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on electoral roll revision in Bihar, the government asserted in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that matters pending before the judiciary cannot be discussed on the floor of the House.
Speaking in the House, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stressed that rules of the Lok Sabha do not allow sub-judice matters to be discussed in the House. He also pointed out that the functioning of autonomous institutions such as the Election Commission cannot be discussed in Parliament. Rijiju cited a 1998 ruling by then Lok Sabha speaker Bal Ram Jhakar that under the existing constitutional provisions, the House cannot comment upon the actions of the Election Commission. Jhakar, according to Rijiju, had said that he cannot break the rules by allowing a discussion on the functioning of the EC.
“The government has been very open to taking up discussion on any matter. However, any discussion in the Parliament has to be in accordance with constitutional provisions and also in accordance with the rules as prescribed in the procedure and conduct of business in the Lok Sabha. On the issue of intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar for which they (opposition members) are disturbing the House from first day of the session, we all know that the matter is under consideration of the Supreme Court and as such it is sub judice and a hence a discussion cannot be held on the subject,” Rijiju said.
Rijiju underlined that the issue relates to the functioning of the Election Commission of India, which is an autonomous body.
“In the past, it has been clearly established in this House itself that matters falling under the domain of the Election Commission of India cannot be discussed in this House,” he said in the Lok Sabha. (PTI)
