Speaker Om Birla steps aside amid no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha: Sources

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday has decided to temporarily step aside from presiding over the House until discussion and a decision are taken on the no-confidence motion moved by Opposition MPs seeking his removal, according to sources.

What is the reason to step aside?

The development comes after Congress MPs submitted a notice of no-confidence motion against Om Birla today.

Congress MP K Suresh submitted a resolution notice to the Lok Sabha Secretariat on behalf of several Opposition parties. 

Om Birla also directed the House Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh to review the notice against him and take appropriate action as per established procedures.

This instruction has been issued at a time when the proceedings of the House are being continuously disrupted and the budget session has been affected.

What did the Congress say?

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, "At 1:14 pm today, we submitted a motion for a no-confidence motion against the Speaker under rule 94C rules and procedures."

According to sources, a total of 118 MPs have signed the notice of no-confidence motion against the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

According to Lok Sabha rules, the support of a minimum of 100 MPs is required to bring a no-confidence motion against the Speaker.

What is the reason for taking this step?

The opposition says that their voice is being suppressed in the House. Dissatisfaction has been expressed over Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi not getting a chance to speak, suspension of MPs and repeatedly switching off the mike during the proceedings. Opposition parties allege that their objections on these issues were ignored.

When will the discussion take place?

According to sources, the motion to remove the Speaker may be taken up for discussion on the very first day of the second part of the Budget Session, on March 9.

Under Article 96(1) of the Constitution, a Speaker cannot preside over any sitting, even if present, when a resolution for his or her removal is under consideration.