Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow
Lucknow, Jan 21: Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly (APLA) Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu on Wednesday said the salaries and allowances of public representatives who fail to attend Assembly sessions must be cut, and suggested that such members be “sent back to the people’s court” by empowering voters to recall them.
Addressing the 86th All India Conference of Presiding Officers on the theme Accountability of Legislature towards the People at the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Mr. Ayyanna Patrudu referred to the continued absence of 11 YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MLAs, including former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, from the Andhra Pradesh Assembly.
He termed it deeply regrettable that some MLAs had not attended even a single day of the Assembly or participated in any debate since their election to the House in June 2024. “The fact that these MLAs are regularly drawing salaries and allowances despite their absence causes great pain,” he said, questioning how such conduct and unethical behaviour could be justified.
Pointing out that there were no specific rules to prohibit such absenteeism, the Speaker said he would seek guidance from the Lok Sabha Speaker and fellow Presiding Officers to find a way forward. “This is not just an issue of the Andhra Pradesh Legislature. The public may use such examples to paint all elected representatives with the same brush,” he cautioned.
Mr. Ayyanna Patrudu said the Constitution envisaged a Legislative system functioning with complete transparency, often likened to a ‘glass house’. “Any system that lacks transparency cannot be accountable to the people,” he observed.
He underlined that debating Bills, discussing public issues, raising urgent matters of public importance and holding the government accountable were among the core functions of Legislatures. Despite these responsibilities and powers, he noted that public trust in elected representatives was diminishing, calling for serious introspection.
The Speaker also expressed concern over the declining number of legislative working days, even as population and public problems continued to grow. “Legislatures should function for at least 60 days a year. Only through frequent sittings can MLAs effectively hold the government accountable,” he added.