New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS) Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly Vijender Gupta has called for gender-neutral parliamentary rules, constitutional safeguards and modernisation of legislative procedures, an official said on Tuesday.
Speaking about the initiative to draft model rules for legislative bodies, Gupta said that uniform rules must not mean identical rules.
“Our endeavour should be to strengthen common democratic standards while preserving the constitutional autonomy and institutional distinctiveness of every Legislature,” he said.
He made the observations while presenting Delhi’s recommendations at the meeting of the Committee on Formulation of Model Rules for Uniformity in the Procedure and Conduct of Business in Legislative Bodies in India.
Calling for comprehensive parliamentary reforms, he emphasised the need for gender-neutral legislative rules, arguing that masculine expressions retained under conventions derived from the General Clauses Act, 1897, must give way to language reflecting contemporary democratic realities.
He observed that recognition of Nari Shakti must extend to the rules governing India’s democratic institutions.
The meeting was chaired by Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Satish Mahana and attended by Rahul Narwekar, Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly; Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly; and G.S. Patil, Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, along with senior legislative officials and delegates.
Welcoming the Presiding Officers, Gupta recalled the Committee’s preliminary meeting in Mysore on May 12 2026, following the decision at the 85th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference in Patna to develop a common procedural framework.
Appreciating the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Secretariat for preparing the draft report, he stressed that the exercise must identify ambiguities, draw upon effective parliamentary practices and deliver substantive institutional reforms.
The meeting was conducted in a paperless manner, reflecting the growing adoption of digital practices in legislative institutions.
According to an environmental impact assessment done by the Delhi Legislative Assembly Secretariat, the digital circulation of 12 sets of documents, comprising 1,521 pages each, resulted in estimated savings of 18,252 sheets of paper, the equivalent of approximately 4.4 trees and 18,252 litres of water, along with an estimated reduction of 182.5 kg of CO₂-equivalent emissions.
Emphasising constitutional safeguards, Gupta maintained that the Model Rules must recognise the distinct legal frameworks of Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir, whose Legislatures function under constitutional provisions and specific statutes, including the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991.
He sought appropriate provisions for bicameral Legislatures, including Legislative Councils, their Presiding Officers, Secretariat officials and reciprocal arrangements.
He also recommended clarity on elections to presiding offices, the nomination of the Panel of Chairpersons, and the delegation of the Speaker’s functions.
Cautioning that quorum requirements could be changed only through legislation, he opposed unnecessary duplication of constitutional and statutory provisions, including those governing Addresses by the President, Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
On legislative functioning, Gupta supported three annual sessions — Budget, Monsoon and Winter — and a minimum of 30 sittings for all State Legislatures, as discussed at the 86th Conference of Presiding Officers, while protecting higher statutory requirements and the quality of deliberations.
With the growing adoption of Digital Sansad, e-Vidhan and the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), he advocated formal recognition of electronic notices, summons, petitions and procedural communications.
He also called for distinguishing the Roll of Members from the daily Attendance Register and retaining effective existing parliamentary arrangements.
Welcoming the proposed recognition of Vande Mataram at the commencement of proceedings and Jana Gana Mana at the conclusion of a session, he noted that both practices were followed in the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
Seeking greater procedural flexibility, Gupta recommended avoiding duplication between Zero Hour and Special Mentions, limiting Adjournment Motions to one per sitting, and leaving debate duration to the Speaker’s or House’s discretion.
–IANS
rch/dan
About the Author
