'Assemblies of big states should have 60 sittings per year'

The 78th Conference of Presiding Officers of Legislative Bodies here today passed a resolution that big states should have at least 60 sittings and small states at least 30 sittings of the legislature in a year.
The state governments should ensure that "as far as feasible, a minimum of 60 days of sitting of the state legislatures are held in a year with the exception of 30 sittings for small states" said the resolution.
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said later that in 2001, a resolution had been passed that immediate steps be taken to ensure a minimum of 110 days of sitting of the Parliament and 90 and 50 days of sitting of legislatures of the big and small states, respectively.

But this was not achieved in the last 15 years, so the conference decided to pass a fresh resolution, she said.
"Only four (state) Assemblies have more than 60 sittings while other states have very less number of sittings per year," she said.
The issues such as changing public perception were also discussed at the two-day conference which ended today, she told reporters.

"People are asking me why the Lok Sabha is not functioning. If forced disruptions happen frequently, it is but natural that public perception towards the legislature would change," Mahajan said.
"The conduct of the legislators must be such as to strengthen the public faith in the efficacy of our deliberative institutions.

"It was suggested that the rules of the Assemblies and Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha should be relooked for efficient functioning....It was also suggested that a day's salary of members who disrupt the house should be cut," Mahajan said.
"Members also raised the issue of perceived judicial overreach over the legislative functioning. To which I said if we make our parliamentary system strong than it won't happen," she said.