Legislators can no longer avoid answering questions at Assembly

Legislators can no longer avoid answering questions at Assembly. For the first time, nodal officers are appointed for each department to provide answers to questions posed by Legislators at the Assembly. They have been instructed to take charge to answer questions posed by legislators at the Assembly and also sort out disruptions at the Assembly with regard to information sought.

Recently, at a meeting presided by Speaker K B Koliwad, Legislative Secretary S Murthy has provided training to nodal officers with regard to providing information sought. He has also instructed the officers to be prepared, as the system is going to be implemented from the coming Sessions starting on June 5. Hence, it is expected that, there will not be any complaints with regard to questions going unanswered during the continued Budget session (monsoon).

The problem of questions not answered by the ministers concerned, at the Legislative Assembly and Council, despite the questions being sent 15 days in advance by the members, is an age old complaint. Hence at the Assembly sessions, only questions get asked and answers are rarely given by the ministers. In most instances, replies like 'information will be provided before the conclusion of the Session' is a standard practice and that also helped avoiding providing answers.

There are any number of previous instances where in, legislators have alleged the government of inaction, the proceedings being stalled or disrupted.  The government suffered embarrassment due to this. To avoid this, nodal officers are appointed to all the 38 departments. They have been given the responsibility of providing answers sought by the legislators. The nodal officers also have the responsibility of setting right any mistakes or inaccuracies in the questions themselves.  The nodal officers should be in constant communication with the department and legislative officials during the Sessions. They are also instructed o procure information through mobile phones on the spot.