Guj Speaker puts cap on 'unstarred' questions asked by MLAs

In a controversial move, Gujarat Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi has barred MLAs from submitting more than three 'unstarred' questions per week between two Assembly sessions.

Opposition Congress took a strong objection to the fiat today, saying it was an attempt to curtail legislators' rights.

As per the order, conveyed to all 182 MLAs by the Assembly Secretariat on March 28, the last day of Budget Session, "one member can submit only three unstarred questions per week during the gap between two Assembly sessions".

Further, MLAs can not submit unstarred questions from the day a session is announced till the end of the session.

The order only mentions unstarred questions, not the starred ones. As per the Assembly rules, starred questions can come up for discussion during Question Hour, while unstarred questions and government's replies to them are made available in writing, in the form of booklets.

While an MLA can choose what kind of question he or she wants to submit, the Secretariat can transfer a starred question to the unstarred category if required, said officials.

Assembly Secretary D M Patel maintained that Speaker's order doesn't curtail MLAs' rights.

"Normally, party offices submit questions in bulk in the name of few MLAs. In some cases as many as 1,500 unstarred questions are submitted by sinle MLA. Other MLAs are deprived of the chance to ask unstarred questions," he said.

"To give chance to other MLAs, the Speaker has taken this decision. There is no limit to number of questions that can be submitted otherwise. The only thing is, they (questions) have to be distributed equally among MLAs. There is absolutely no restriction on submitting questions," Patel said.

However, senior Congress MLA and deputy Leader of Opposition Shailesh Parmar claimed it was an attempt to curtail the rights of legislators.

"It is the fundamental right of an MLA to seek answers from the government by asking questions. I feel this decision is an attempt to curtail that right. I urge the Speaker to reconsider his decision," said Parmar.