Odisha Assembly Monsoon Session sans Question Hour

Bhubaneswar: The Monsson Session of the Odisha Assembly, which is scheduled to begin on October 29 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, will have no Question Hour. Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro informed this after an all-party meeting held here today.

However, 12 Ordinances which have been cleared by the state Cabinet, will be tabled during the session for discussion.

The Assembly will run for four hours everyday. As decided earlier, the House will run on Sunday too.

“COVID-19 test of all MLAs will begin from tomorrow. Sitting arrangements have been made keeping in view the social distancing norm. Video conferencing facility from district headquarters is available for senior MLAs. But they will have to inform us beforehand,” said the Assembly Speaker said after the meeting.

The following decisions were taken at the all-party meeting:    

• Adjournment of the House for an hour after obituary references for former President late Pranab Mukhar and former MLAs Bishnu Charan Das and Madan Mohan Dutta and some police personnel on September 29.

• There will be no Question Hour during the entire fourth Session.

• There will be sitting on Sunday October 4.

• Sitting arrangements for Members in Assembly hall, visitors gallery, D.V. Gallery and Speaker’s Gallery.

• Time of each sitting day (11A.M./10.30 A.M. to 1 P.M. & 3 P.M. to 4.30 P.M.).

• Members will participate in the debate by standing/ sitting in their respective seats.

• Similarly Ministers will give answers by standing/ sitting in their respective seats.

• Issuance of entry passes to Press (print media) to Assembly Hall and T.V. representatives to assembly premises (outside of the Assembly building).

• No Lobby passes to be issued to any press or T.V. representatives or any other person other than Hon’ble Members.

• Participation of Members in House through Video Conference at OCAC Bhubaneswar, Conference Halls of the Lok Seva Bhawan, residential office of Hon’ble Chief Minister, Minister’s/Leader of Opposition/ Members and office of respective Collectors where Video Conference system have been installed.

• No Papers, Reports etc. are to be distributed among Members in the House except urgent nature i.e. amendments to Bill, reply of Minister etc..

• All such papers etc. will be distributed by Daks to Members to their respective quarters.

• Sanitisation of Assembly Hall and premises daily by B.M.C.

• Supply of Corona preventive kit to Members/ Media people/ Officers and Staff by Health and Family Welfare Department who will enter to the Assembly Hall.

• Corona test for all Police personal to be engaged during the Assembly Session.

• Restriction of entry of staff of Ministers’ and their Corona test (P.S./A. P.S./ Peon/P.S.O. and Driver).

• Restriction of entry of Department officers’ with negative report after Corona test (Secretary of the Department concerned and two other officers).

• Laying of 12 numbers of Ordinances.

• Introduction, Consideration and Passing of 12 numbers of Ordinances replacing Bills along with other Bills.

However, Opposing party Congress has condemned the decision to suspend of Question Hour.  Congress MLA Narasingha termed the decision as illegal and unconstitutional.