Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Directs Secretariat To Correct Removal Notice Before Taking It Up Next Month

New Delhi: Speaker Om Birla has directed the Lok Sabha Secretariat to correct the ‘flaws’ in the Opposition’s notice, seeking his removal from his Constitutional office, and proceed with the corrected notice to prevent it from being rejected, PTI reported.

As many as 118 opposition MPs had signed the notice submitted to Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh on Tuesday afternoon. Later in the day, the opposition withdrew the notice and replaced it with another one correcting the date.

Lok Sabha sources on Wednesday said four instances of the wrong date were found to have been mentioned in the notice which could have led to it being dismissed under the rules. However, Birla directed the Lok Sabha secretariat to get the defective notice amended and take action on it.

Sources said upon receipt of the revised notice, a speedy review will be conducted as per the rules.

Opposition parties on Tuesday put in motion the process to oust Birla as Lok Sabha speaker, alleging that he had acted in a “blatantly partisan” manner in the House and prompting him to step aside from chairing the proceedings till the matter is settled.

Congress’ deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi; chief whip K Suresh; and whip Mohamed Jawed submitted the notice under Article 94C of the Constitution to Lok Sabha Secretary General on behalf of several opposition parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party and the DMK.

Lok Sabha secretariat officials said Birla, upholding the highest standards of morality, has decided not to sit in the Speaker’s chair until the no-confidence motion moved against him is settled.

The officials said the no-confidence motion against the speaker was likely to be taken up on March 9, when the House reassembles after the recess to examine budgetary proposals.