Move to hold assembly session in ground unconstitutional: Experts

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday while addressing a gathering at Chhatrasal Stadium proclaimed that his government will pass the Jan Lokpal Bill at a special assembly session that will be held at Ramlila Ground in February.

However, the decision will not be easy to implement. Former Delhi assembly secretary SK Sharma said that in last 65 years no assembly session has been held outside of precinct of the House. ‘If this happens, it would be totally a violation of the Indian Constitution. Without amendment of the Constitution, no assembly session can be held out of assembly premises,’ Sharma said. Sharma said that there are a total 38 legislative Houses in the country, including Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha states and Union territory assemblies. There is no example of a legislative assembly session being held outside the House.

Sharma said that the Constitution states, ‘There shall be proceeding in precincts of House, Speaker’s chamber, deputy Speaker and ministers’ galleries etc.’

Delhi NCT Act’s section 18 says, every member shall have a right to speech and vote from their respective seats without any interruption. It is not possible in any field like Ramlila Maidan, where mass gatherings are held, Sharma said.

‘It is also not possible at a place where the Speaker cannot maintain House decorum. The Speaker cannot ask any member to go out of the House in case of indiscipline if a session is held on some ground,’ said Sharma.

Denouncing the move, the Opposition leader in Delhi assembly Harsh Vardhan expressed said, ‘It is only a political drama which is expected to be held in Ramlila Ground.’  Vardhan further said that it was a sheer waste of public money.

A few days back, Delhi police had written a letter to Kejriwal stating, ‘It is not advisable to hold the assembly session at the Ramlila Ground keeping in view the law and order situation in the area. 

‘Thousand of onlookers and supporters will gather outside the ground and it will be difficult to manage the crowd. We will have to close several roads and that will lead to traffic chaos,’ a senior police officer said.