House session outside Assembly premises unconstitutional: Congress

Delhi Congress has slammed the AAP government's decision to call a special session of the Assembly outside its designated premises, saying the move was totally unconstitutional.

"As per the constitution, the Assembly session has to be held at its designated place. But the AAP government has violated the rules by calling an Assembly session at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

"Only Assembly members can take a decision about where a session is to be held," the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee told reporters here.

Lovely added that if the Delhi government violates rules, Congress would not desist from bringing contempt and privilege motion against it.

"As per the rule, the Assembly hall, Speaker and deputy Speakers' seats are its designated places in the Assembly. Calling Assembly session on open ground is unconstitutional. Kejriwal and his ministers should have read the rules and regulations before taking any decision," he said.

Asked if Congress MLAs would attend the session if it was indeed held outside, Lovely said they were yet to take a decision on that.

"It doesn't matter whether Congress MLAs will attend the session or not. Congress demands that the AAP government immediately withdraw its decision as it violates the rules. Besides, there is also a Supreme Court ruling which says that law should be made in the Legislative Assembly," he said.

Delhi government today decided to call a special session of the Assembly at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on February 16 to take up the Jan Lokpal Bill.

The party had earlier said it wanted to hold such a session at the Ramlila Ground, where the CM and his Cabinet had been sworn into office in December last year.