Kerala Legislative Assembly | Photo: PTI
Thiruvananthapuram: The Legislative Assembly Secretary’s statement that Speaker’s consent was required to interrogate one of his staff members, has landed in controversy. Opposition has claimed that Assembly Secretary’s statement was against the rules. However, the Speaker and the Assembly Secretary have denied this.
The issue will be resonated by the opposition in the budget session of Assembly, which will start on Friday. Earlier, the opposition had filed a notice demanding the removal of Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan from his position.
Congress leaders argued that the protection offered by Rule 165 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Kerala Legislative Assembly was not applicable to staff members.
Opposition leader condemns Speaker on dollar smuggling case
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 7 (UNI) Opposition leader in Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala on Thursday strongly condemned Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan for his alleged attempt to derail the dollar smuggling case.
In a message, the Opposition leader said, the Speaker is misinterpreting the Assembly rules to save himself from the investigation. The protection available for legislative members are not applicable to their staff.
The Opposition leader raised sharp criticism after the Assembly Secretary issued a letter to the Customs officials probing the case, informing that the Customs must seek prior permission of the Assembly Speaker to quiz his assistant private secretary K Ayyappan.
Sreeramakrishnan said the Legislature Secretariat has not blocked any investigation but rules need to be followed.
Share Via Email
| A+A A- By Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan on Thursday said his prior permission should be obtained by Customs before questioning his personal staff in connection with a case relating to the smuggling of US dollars by the former staff of UAE consulate in Thiruvananthapuram.
Quoting Rule 165 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Assembly, Sreeramakrishnan said a legal process, civil or criminal, cannot be served within the precincts of the Assembly without obtaining the Speaker s permission. It does not specify that it applies to a member of the Assembly.
Kochi (Kerala) [India], January 6 (ANI): K Ayyappan, the Assistant Private Secretary of the Kerala Assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan on Wednesday failed to appear before Customs Department, which had issued summons to him yesterday after he skipped appearing before it.
Kerala Assembly passes unanimous resolution against central farm laws
Moving the resolution, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that the central laws have been amended to help the corporates. PTI December 31, 2020 / 07:05 PM IST
Expressing solidarity with the agitating farmers in Delhi, the Kerala Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution demanding the immediate withdrawal of the three contentious central laws, saying they were anti-farmer and pro-corporate and would push the farming community into a deep crisis.
In a rare gesture, not only the legislators of the ruling CPI(M)-headed LDF and Congress-led UDF, but the lone BJP member in the 140-member state Assembly, O Rajagopal, also supported the resolution against the Centre, saying it is the democratic spirit.