Haryana speaker wants sessions doubled

The speaker of the Haryana assembly Wednesday favoured longer duration of the assembly sessions.

Speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar told media that he was in favour of longer duration of Vidhan Sabha sessions so that all the MLAs (legislators) could get sufficient time to discuss issues concerning their areas.

He said he was in favour of doubling the time of assembly sessions as compared to the last session.

"The budget session of Haryana is expected to be convened in the first week of March. Longer duration of sessions give MLAs ample time to put forth their views. Better suggestions of members of the house would also be accepted during the sessions," Gujjar said.

In the past, the previous Congress government in the state (2005-2009 and 2009-2014) had been criticised for shorter and fewer assembly sessions.

Gujjar said efforts were being made to make the working of Haryana assembly paperless on the pattern of the Himachal Pradesh assembly to improve efficiency and cut down wasteful expenditure.

Meanwhile, he said all legislators will soon be given laptops.