President Kovind to inaugurate presiding officers conference in Gujarat's Kevadia

President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate a two-day conference of speakers and presiding officers of the country’s legislatures in Gujarat's Kevadia on Wednesday. The theme of this year’s conference is how to improve coordination between the three organs of the state, legislature, judiciary and executive, writes Krishnanand Tripathi, Deputy News Editor of ETV Bharat.

New Delhi:President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate a two-day conference of speakers and presiding officers of the country’s legislatures in Kevadia, Gujarat on Wednesday, said Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla.

“President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate the two-day conference, and the Vice President, who as Chairman of Rajya Sabha plays a very crucial role in legislative function, will also be present on the occasion,” Birla told reporters in New Delhi.

“Maximum number of presiding officers will be present on the occasion, it shows how much importance we attach to democracy,” he added.

Birla said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the gathering on November 26. November 26 is celebrated as the constitution day and it will be the 71st year of adoption of Indian constitution.

“Prime Minister will address the meeting virtually,” informed the Lok Sabha speaker.

The meeting will be celebrated as the centenary of presiding officers' conference as the convention started during the British period in 1921. The presiding conference has been held every year since then but it was discontinued for some years in the 1980s.

“It was discontinued for several years due to some reason but we will be celebrating this year’s conference as a centenary conference as we are completing 100 years,” informed the Lok Sabha speaker.

Coordination between legislature, executive and judiciary

Birla said the theme of this year’s conference is how to improve coordination between the three organs of the state, legislature, judiciary and executive.

“These three organs have been assigned different rights and responsibilities. Smooth coordination among the three is crucial for a healthy democracy,” he said.

He, however, clarified that the chief justice of India will not be able to participate in the two-day conference to be held on the banks of river Narmada.

“I invited the Chief Justice of India. However, the CJI would not be able to attend the speaker’s conference as the court is functioning,” Birla said in response to a question by ETV Bharat.

Three reports to be discussed

Talking about the 79th presiding officers’ conference, which was held in Uttarakhand’s capital Dehradun last year, Birla said three crucial reports prepared under the guidance of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Assam assembly speakers will be discussed in this year’s conference.

A committee under the leadership of Rajasthan assembly speaker CP Joshi was constituted to study the statutes passed under the 10th schedule of Indian constitution.

The second committee was constituted under the leadership of Assam assembly speaker HN Goswami to find ways for ensuring the smooth conduct of the legislature.

The third committee was constituted under the leadership of Hriday Narayan Dikshit, speaker of Uttar Pradesh assembly, to suggest ways to increase the use of new technology in the functioning of legislature.

Birla said this year’s conference will discuss the report prepared by all three committees.