Ensure attendance during discussion of bills: Speaker

Ahead of the Winter Session of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from this Friday, Speaker Biman Banerjee on Monday urged leaders of all political parties to ensure attendance of their legislators during discussion of bills.

“It has been noticed that when bills are brought up for discussion then the attendance is very low. It is so low that the person who is answering questions on the bill also looses enthusiasm,” Banerjee said here adding that even Parliament is facing the same situation.

During an all party meet at the assembly on Monday, he asked leaders of all parties to ensure that their MLAs are present for the entire day.

The Winter Session of the Assembly will start from Friday and will adjourn after paying obituary references to eminent personalities who died in the recent past, including former state Assembly Speaker and CPI(M) veteran Hashim Abdul Halim.

A number of bills including two each from the departments of education, law and labour are expected to be tabled before the House during the session, the Speaker said.

New bills include Brainware University Bill, 2015, and West Bengal University and College Staff Selection Commission Bill, 2015.