Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has decided that he will stay away from House proceedings until the no-confidence motion seeking his removal is discussed and decided, sources told India Today on Tuesday.
There is no rule that requires him to do so, but Birla has chosen not to attend the sittings. Sources said that even if leaders from the ruling side or the Opposition try to persuade him, he is unlikely to change his decision.
The motion could come up for discussion on the first day of the second leg of the Budget Session, scheduled for March 9. For the resolution to be taken up, at least 50 MPs will have to support it by raising their hands. Once that threshold is met, the Chair can admit the motion for discussion.
As per Article 96(1) of the Constitution, the Speaker cannot preside over the House when a resolution for his or her removal is under consideration. However, the Speaker is allowed to be present in the House and participate in the debate to defend against the charges, though he or she must vacate the Chair during the proceedings.
Birla has been facing criticism from Opposition parties over his handling of recent proceedings. The flashpoint was his decision not to allow Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to quote from former Army Chief General M M Naravane’s unpublished memoir while replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address.
In the notice seeking his removal, the Opposition listed several grievances, including what it described as repeatedly denying Rahul Gandhi the opportunity to speak and the suspension of eight MPs. The notice alleged that the suspensions were arbitrary and amounted to penalising members for exercising their democratic rights.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore also spoke out on X, saying the Opposition still respects the office of the Speaker but feels compelled to act due to what he called a consistent denial of space for Opposition voices. He described the no-confidence motion as an “extraordinary step” taken under “extraordinary circumstances.”
On Tuesday, Birla asked the Lok Sabha Secretary General to examine the notice submitted by Opposition MPs and take necessary steps as per procedure. The notice was formally submitted to the Lok Sabha Secretariat by Congress MP K Suresh on behalf of several Opposition parties.