Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Mar 10: Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Tuesday warned senior bureaucrats against skipping important discussions in the House, especially debates on the state budget, and asked them to treat the warning as a “last chance”.
Addressing the assembly before the budget discussion, Narwekar said the presence of senior officers in the gallery is crucial as it enables ministers to obtain immediate administrative inputs during debates.
“The discussion on the state budget is a serious matter, and it is the responsibility of both the government and the administration to treat it with due importance,” he said.
The Speaker said he had earlier written to the state bureaucracy asking senior officers to remain present during key debates in the assembly.
“If officers of the additional chief secretary-level are not present in the gallery during such important discussions in the future, the House will be compelled to take appropriate action,” Narwekar warned, adding that the current warning should be considered the “last chance” for the bureaucracy.
He also stressed that smooth functioning of the House depends on cooperation from both elected representatives and the administration, and urged members to ensure debates are conducted within the scheduled time to manage the assembly’s business efficiently.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Legislative Council’s privileges committee recommended 30 days of civil imprisonment for an NCP (SP) worker for allegedly using “foul and abusive” language against Council Chairman Ram Shinde.
Presenting the committee’s report in the council, committee chairman and BJP MLC Prasad Lad said the panel viewed the incident as a serious breach of privilege and an insult to the dignity of the House.
“Going by the gravity of the foul language used by NCP (SP) worker Suryakant More against Chairman Ram Shinde, the incident is considered a rare case. We recommend 30 days of civil imprisonment to More,” Lad said.
He added that the punishment would technically lapse once the council proceedings are adjourned until the next session. The committee therefore recommended that any remaining period of imprisonment be completed during the next session.
The current session of the Maharashtra Legislative Council is scheduled to conclude on March 25.