Bhopal: Expressing concern over the
gradual declining standards of legislatures in performing
their duties, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Wednesday said there
is a need for legislative bodies to make a self-assessment on
meeting people`s expectations from them.
"In the recent past, there has been a general disquiet
about the gradually declining standards of our legislatures in
the performance of their duties," Kumar said while
inaugurating the `74th Conference of Presiding Officers of
Legislative Bodies in India` at the State Assembly here.
The February 2-6 conference was formally inaugurated
today by the Speaker. "Debates and discussion, which are
considered to be the hallmark of democracy, are often marked
by disruptions, confrontations and various non-democratic
alternatives," she said.
"Under the given circumstances, it becomes imperative
that all legislative bodies across the country make self-
assessment with regard to their functioning in the realisation
of the urges, aspirations and expectations of the people,"
Kumar said.
The Speaker said that the conference will deliberate
on the topics -- "Self-Assessment by Legislature for Enhancing
its Relevance", "Creation of Smaller States -- A National
Perspective," and "The Role of Speaker in the Administration
of Legislature".
PTI
