In the wake of a major embarrassment for the Bihar government, State Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar convened a crucial high-level review meeting on Thursday. The urgent gathering aimed to dissect the technical failures that severely disrupted Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's address to a joint session of the legislature just a day earlier.
Embarrassing Disruption During Governor's Address
The meeting on February 1 was a direct response to an incident that caused significant red faces for the state administration. During the Governor's important speech on Wednesday, the proceedings were repeatedly interrupted and marred by malfunctioning microphones and a highly erratic audio system. This technical glitch prevented a smooth delivery of the address, turning a formal state event into a scene of confusion and disarray.
The disruption occurred during Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's address to the joint session of the Bihar legislature, a key constitutional event marking the beginning of the budget session. The failure of the public address system within the assembly complex raised serious questions about maintenance and preparedness.
Speaker Demands Accountability and Action
Speaker Prem Kumar summoned officials from the building construction department, which is responsible for the upkeep of the assembly premises, for a thorough assessment. According to a press statement released by the Assembly secretariat, the officials present at the review provided concrete assurances to the Speaker.
The building construction department officials explicitly stated that "tough action would be taken against the persons found guilty" for the lapse. Furthermore, they committed to making "alternative arrangements to ensure such incidents do not recur" in the future, signaling a move towards more reliable backup systems.
Focus on Overall Maintenance of Assembly Complex
Sources revealed that the scope of the meeting went beyond the immediate audio malfunction. Speaker Prem Kumar instructed the officials to ensure the proper upkeep of all works carried out by their department across the three buildings and the entire premises of the legislative assembly. This directive underscores a broader concern about the maintenance standards of the state's key democratic infrastructure.
The high-level review was attended by senior officers including secretary Kumar Ravi, Khyati Singh, and the secretary-in-charge of the Bihar legislative assembly. Their presence highlighted the seriousness with which the state government is treating this lapse in protocol and infrastructure.
This incident has put a spotlight on the operational management behind major state functions. The promise of tough action and systemic fixes will now be closely watched, as the government seeks to restore confidence and ensure that the hallowed halls of the legislature function without such disruptive hitches.
