KHNAM MLA’s privilege notice against Assembly Speaker rejected 

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 17, 2022

A breech of privilege notice moved by KHNAM legislator Adelbert Nongrum against the Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh was rejected through voice vote on Thursday. 

“The No’s have it, the motion is not carried and the privilege notice is rejected by the House,” the Speaker said after the privilege notice was put to vote.

Referring to the rule 314 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, Lyngdoh said, “If any doubt arises as to the interpretation of any of the provisions of this rule, the decision of the Speaker shall be final. I also give my ruling, this privilege notice will not  be a precedence.”

Earlier, Nongrum alleged that the action of the Speaker of commiting breech of privilege against him by moving away from the ‘rule book’ on March 8.

He said he had come prepared for introduction of the Meghalaya Agriculture Land Regulation Bill, 2022 and was ready to move a motion for leave as per rule for consideration of the house. It was listed as item No 4 (a).

“Why did you (Speaker) move away from the rule book and asked me to beg leave to introduce, why did you not ask me to move a motion for leave to introduce. I consider your action against me that day a breech of privilege,” Nongrum charged.

“You Mr Speaker Sir have curtailed my right. It  doesnt take much to understand that there is a big difference between beg leave to introduce and move a motion for leave to introduce. If you Mr Speaker Sir had a correct understanding as to what you want me to do on that day why didn’t you communicate that understanding to me by quoting the rules…I consider your act of ommission that day as breech of privilege,” he added. 

Before giving his ruling, the Speaker said the private member bill brought have been circulated to all the members for their perusal and examination before it was listed in the list of business.

The member who bring the private member bill is allowed to give a brief explanatory under Rule 71 provided as per Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.

“Acccordingly you (Nongrum) could have requested to make a brief explanatory statement before begging leave of the House for introduction of the bill. I had also announced Shri George B Lyngdoh, member, who had also brought a private member bill on March 10 but there was no indication from your side to make any explanatory statement to which I could have considered,” he said. 

Nongrum’s move against the Speaker saw objection from both the ruling and the opposition bench.