A no-confidence motion brought by the opposition against Om Birla, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, is expected to be discussed in Parliament soon.
According to sources, the debate on the motion may take place on Tuesday. The discussion will conclude with a reply from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on behalf of the government. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju is also likely to participate in the debate.
The government is reportedly keen to complete the discussion on the motion at the earliest.
Opposition parties have levelled serious allegations against Birla, claiming that he adopted a biased approach while conducting proceedings in the House and did not allow opposition leaders sufficient time to speak.
The motion was moved by three Congress MPs, Mohammad Jawed, K Suresh and Mallu Ravi, and is backed by 118 Members of Parliament.
Questions Over Neutrality Of The House
The proposal also alleges that the Speaker made inappropriate remarks about women MPs from the opposition and suspended several lawmakers for the entire session.
It further claims that no action was taken against some ruling party leaders who allegedly made objectionable remarks about former prime ministers. Opposition parties argue that such decisions raise questions about the neutrality of the House.
Constitutional Provisions On The Motion
Under constitutional provisions, the Speaker can remain present in the House during the discussion on the motion and present his defence. However, he cannot preside over the proceedings during the debate.
If a vote takes place, the Speaker will cast his vote as a regular member through a ballot slip.
This is not the first time a no-confidence motion has been moved against a Speaker. In 1954, a similar motion was brought against G V Mavalankar, the Speaker of the first Lok Sabha.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently praised Birla, describing him as an outstanding parliamentarian and Speaker.
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