Surplus appointment in Assembly, others heat up proceedings
Speaker-Erabot spat rattles House
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 04 2012:
Contract employees of Assembly Secretariat unable to attend office on the opening day of the ongoing Assembly session, controversy over alleged surplus appointment of Assembly Secretariat staff and denial of information to a right to Information (RTI) activist sparked off a heated exchange of words between the Assembly Speaker Th Lokeshwor and senior member of the House Y Erabot in today's session.
Later in the evening, the Assembly Secretariat issued a notification stating that the speeches of Y Erabot have been expunged from the proceedings of the House as the Speaker held that the proceedings contained defamatory, indecent and undignified words.
Upon conclusion of comments by the Opposition members during the discussion on various demands, Erabot sought to share his views on behalf of the ruling party.
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However, the Speaker apparently not realising that Erabot was already on his feet asked Leader of the House and Chief Minister O ibobi Singh to proceed and explain on the points highlighted by the Opposition members.
Even though Erabot was told to comment later by the Speaker, the veteran Wangkhei AC legislator defying the speaker's suggestion deliberated on the issues of stringent security measures preventing the contract employees from attending to their official chores, appointment of excess Assembly secretariat staff and denying an RTI applicant information about the appointment procedures in the Assembly Secretariat consequently sparking a spat between Th Lokeshwor and Erabot for sometime.
With regard to Erabot's contention on excess appointments in the Assembly Secretariat and denying access of contract employees to the Secretariat, Lokeshwor invited Erabot to the speaker's Chamber where relevant information and documents for matters concerning the Assembly Secretariat will be provided.
Despite the Speaker quoting rules that issues related to the Assembly Secretariat should not be discussed on the floor of the Assembly, the argument persisted with Erabot referring to House schedules contending that every member has the right to be get relevant informations in the House.
The cacophony continued in the House as Erabot questioned why details could not be shared to the RTI applicant who had sought information about the Speaker's wife getting a Government job under OBC category.
Law and Legislative Affairs Minister Th Debendra, who had been mutely observing the scene, ultimately rose to pacify both Lokeshwor and Erabot.
even then Speaker Lokeshwor's suggestion that member of the house speak only on related issue/demand of the day was vehemently opposed by Erabot, who opined that the Speaker need not impose impromptu new rule.
The din finally subsided with the Wangkhei legislator insisting that RTI Act do not have any clause whereby an applicant may access information from the Speaker's chamber.