Puri: A high-level panel constituted by Om Birla on Tuesday held deliberations on the constitutional and procedural framework governing disqualification of legislators under the anti-defection law, officials said.
The discussions took place during the second meeting of the Committee of Presiding Officers in Puri, where members examined issues related to the powers of presiding officers under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India and the rules framed under it.
The four-member committee, headed by Rahul Narwekar, was set up in January 2020 to review provisions concerning disqualification of legislators on grounds of defection. Other members of the panel include U. T. Khader, Sharingain Longkumer and Surama Padhy.
Officials said the committee is expected to prepare a set of guidelines for presiding officers of state legislatures based on the deliberations.
Senior officials from the Lok Sabha Secretariat, secretaries of various state assemblies, constitutional experts, and Odisha’s Advocate General Pitambar Acharya participated in the meeting. Experts shared insights into legal and procedural aspects related to disqualification under the anti-defection law.
According to officials, the inaugural session focused on strengthening parliamentary democracy and enhancing the efficiency of legislative institutions.
The first meeting of the committee was held in Mumbai on February 9 and 10.
