Monsoon session may see virtual participation https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

New Delhi, June 9

Efforts to hold the Monsoon session of Parliament continued with the presiding officers of both Houses today directing officials to explore virtual participation and other options, including limiting attendance of members in person.

With logistics of space coming in the way of holding a session where members can be seated by following the norm of social distancing, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked the Secretaries General to examine various aspects, sources said here.

The presiding officers directed top officials to work on virtual participation of members in the proceedings. The idea is to utilise the maximum capacity available to enable such virtual participation, feasibility of enabling participation of members as per the rules of business of both Houses, other technical issues etc.

The Secretaries General reported the outcomes of assessment of seating capacity in the chambers of both Houses, Central Hall of Parliament and Plenary Hall of Vigyan Bhawan. The top officials said while the Rajya Sabha chamber can accommodate 60 members as per the norms of social distancing, the Lok Sabha chamber and the Central Hall have space for a little over 100 members.

They further said even if the members were to be accommodated in the galleries, the total seating capacity would be much less than required. Even the Plenary Hall of the Vigyan Bhawan would not be adequate to accommodate all 543-Members of the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has 245 members.

Another option discussed was to enable attendance in the chambers of both the Houses of only those many members who can be accommodated as per the social distancing norm by drawing up lists of such members whose participation in various items of business is required on a daily basis.

Regarding virtual meetings of the parliamentary committees, it was explained that any change in the rules to hold such meetings required a motion to be carried in both Houses of Parliament.

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2YnPoz6