Amid 'unparliamentary' words row, Rules Committee under focus

New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) Amid the ongoing debate over the use of certain words during parliamentary proceedings, the focus is on the Rules Committee which frames the norms of the proceedings in the House that functions under the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as its ex-officio Chairperson.

Clearing the air after an uproar over the Lok Sabha Secretariat's updated booklet allegedly listing certain words that will be considered unparliamentary, Speaker Om Prakash Birla said on Thursday that "no word has been banned" and that the members are free to express their views.

In Chapter 26 and under Rule 329 to 331, it is mentioned that, "there shall be a Committee on Rules to consider matters of procedure and conduct of business in the House and to recommend any amendments or additions to these rules".

The Rules Committee shall be nominated by the Speaker and shall consist of 15 members, including the Chairperson of the Committee. The Speaker shall be the ex-officio Chairperson of the committee.

The rules say that any notice given by a member of any amendment to the recommendations of the Committee shall stand referred to the Committee which shall consider it and make such changes in their recommendations as the Committee may deem fit.

The final report of the Committee after taking into consideration the amendments suggested by the members shall be laid on the table.

Thereafter, on the House agreeing to the report on a motion made by a member of the Committee, the amendments to the rules as approved by the House shall be promulgated by the Speaker in the Bulletin.

If notice of such amendment is not given within seven days, the recommendations of the Committee shall be deemed to have been approved by the House and on the expiry of the said period the Speaker shall promulgate in the Bulletin the amendments to the rules as recommended by the Committee.

The amendments to the rules shall come into force on their publication in the Bulletin.