By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 8 Sep: The issue of breach of privilege raised by Congress member Pritam Singh was taken quite seriously by Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan in the House today and she summoned Chief Secretary Dr SS Sandhu to her chamber on the issue.
During the Zero Hour, Congress member and former Minister Pritam Singh raised the issue of breach of privilege in the House. He stated that he had called up the Chief Engineer of PMGSY, referring to RP Singh without actually naming him, several times one day but his calls were not picked up. Finally, the Chief Engineer did pick up his call number and informed him that he was busy. On the request by him (Pritam Singh) the Chief Engineer asked him to visit his office the next day at 11 a.m. However, when he called up the officer next day at 11 a.m., and one of his several calls was picked up, he was informed by the Chief Engineer that he was at the Minister’s office. Since PMGSY comes under Rural Development, he called up Minister Ganesh Joshi, who informed him that the Chief Engineer did not visit him. Later, Pritam Singh called up the Chief Engineer several times around lunch time and, finally, when one of his calls was picked up, Singh told the Chief Engineer that he (the Chief Engineer) had not visited Ganesh Joshi. In response he was informed that the officer had visited the Irrigation Minister Satpal Maharaj. It was confirmed by Pritam Singh that the Engineer concerned had indeed visited Satpal Maharaj’s office in the morning but had left at around 11 a.m.
Taking serious note, Singh alleged that this was not an isolated incident. Many senior officers and bureaucrats do not pick up calls even of ruling party MLAs, but these MLAs have to keep quiet.
Yashpal Arya seconded him and said that this kind of breach of privilege was a very serious issue. He said that he had been a member of the undivided UP Assembly and witness to an incident when one of the bureaucrats had been summoned by the Speaker and forced to offer an apology. Singh and Arya demanded that the Speaker take serious note and summon those who indulge in such indiscipline, which was akin to the insulting the dignity of the House and electoral democracy.
Several other MLAs also reminded the Speaker that this was not the first time that such an issue has been raised in the House. The Speaker had issued directions to the government in the past too to ensure that the protocol is adhered to by the officials and the bureaucrats while dealing with the MLAs, but this has not borne any results, so far.
Taking serious note of the incident, Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan agreed with the members it concerned the dignity of the House. She added that she had decided to summon the Chief Secretary and tell him to ensure that the protocol is not breached by the officials.
She also added that she would write to the IAS Academy and PCS Academy asking them to include the issue in the training curriculum.
Later, Chief Secretary Dr SS Sandhu was summoned by the Speaker. He visited her in her chamber and was told to ensure strict adherence to the protocol in the presence of senior minister Satpal Maharaj. The Chief Secretary assured the Speaker that he would issue strict directions in this regard.
