New Delhi, February 3
The CPM is considering to move a court of law to get an “authoritative interpretation” of the constitutional provision that mandates that the first session of Parliament in a year should start with the Presidential Address.
“I am not representing the entire Opposition. But so far as my party is concerned, we are thinking of moving the court. The court should authoritatively interpret this provision so that it is not misused in future,” CPM leader Somnath Chatterjee told newspersons here after the Opposition raised procedural objections in the Lok Sabha on the government’s interpretation that the current session was an extension of last year’s winter session.
Asked whether they would seek a stay on the proceedings of the session, he said “it is a very short session and there is nothing to get a stay now when the proceedings have already begun”.
Mr Chatterjee said he had referred to a Calcutta High Court order in the House, which had held that the first session of an assembly in a new year should begin with the Governor’s Address, otherwise it would be illegal and invalid. He said the question was whether the ongoing session could be held as a continuation of the winter session or the first session of the new year.
“This question was answered by neither the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, the celebrated Law Minister, the respected Speaker”, he said.
Criticising the government for taking major decisions like dissolution of Parliament “outside the House”, Mr Chatterjee said the manner in which the House was convened was a “very serious matter”.
Referring to the Tehelka, Judeo and other scams, he said while the complainants, including Tehelka journalists, were harassed, “those who have accepted money — political figures — have not suffered.”
After the murder of engineer Satyendra Dubey, two of the accused died under “mysterious circumstances” even when investigation was on. “There is no word from the government and the CBI says it has no responsibility”.
