Letters: Punish unruly MPs

Parliamentary sessions are being washed out frequently. A solution is required urgently to stop this practice, which is leading to wastage of crores of rupees.

Every government, public body, institute or private organisation adheres to a code of conduct or standard operating procedures. Any breach of these regulations invites disciplinary action. These regulations do not seem to apply to India's parliamentary system, which is subject to disruption, stalling, rushing to the well of the House and uncivilised behaviour by MPs. State Assemblies are no better. Some MPs and MLAs even threaten people with guns, refuse to pay toll tax, stop or delay flights and trains and break laws with impunity. What is the legal validity of legislation enacted by criminals?

The President in consultation with the Supreme Court should frame a model code of conduct for Parliament and Assemblies. The stance of MPs claiming supremacy of Parliament over the judiciary cannot be an excuse anymore. Punishment should be prescribed to unruly MPs and MLAs according to the gravity of their offence and strictly implemented.

Shanmugam Mudaliar Pune

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