Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana on Tuesday emphasized the necessity of uniformity in the functioning and rulebooks of legislative assemblies across India to make parliamentary proceedings more effective, transparent, and people-centric.
Call for Common Framework
Speaking at a meeting of presiding officers in Mysuru, which concluded on Tuesday, Mahana stated that a common framework for legislative functioning is essential in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “One Nation, One Legislative Platform.” The high-level committee meeting aimed to make legislative traditions and procedures more effective, modern, and uniform, with deliberations held on the theme, “Uniform Model for the Functioning, Procedures and Rules of Legislative Bodies.”
Committee’s Objective
Mahana explained that the committee, constituted on the initiative of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, is working towards developing a model framework that could help bring all state legislatures onto a common platform. He added that unnecessary disparities in legislative procedures and rules should be removed, and a standardized system should be evolved for all legislative bodies in the country. The speaker further noted that a shared model would help address challenges faced by various assemblies more effectively.
Concerns Over Artificial Intelligence
Expressing concern over the possible misuse of artificial intelligence (AI), Mahana said technology should be used to strengthen democratic institutions rather than undermine them. He also underlined the need for legislatures to engage more closely with the public so that citizens can better understand how assemblies function and the role they play in democracy.
Next Steps
Mahana suggested that all legislative assemblies prepare draft proposals based on their experiences and recommendations so that a final framework can be discussed and approved at the next meeting. This initiative aims to create a more cohesive and efficient legislative system across the nation.
