For instance, a theft at the residence of a Congress MLA got more attention in the session than most other public issues, including the devastating fire in Yamuna Pushta on March 14 in which 28 people killed.

According to official figures, the fire tragedy at Yamuna Pushta was devoted a total of one hour and 10 minutes and was discussed by only three members, while the theft at the residence of Congress legislator from Mandawali, Meera Bhardwaj, was discussed by 23 members for two hours and eight minutes. The other issues which were devoted so much time include civic amenities and the law and order situation in Delhi.

The issues were among the six calling attention notices which were discussed as matters of ``urgent public importance.''

According to a government press release, other matters of ``urgent public importance'' were: people falling sick due to the consumption of Kuttu Atta, non-payment of old age pension and mismanagement in the Social Welfare Department, which were given 30 minutes.

The issue of beggars creating a nuisance at road intersections was given 18 minutes and was discussed by only one member, while the matter of the charging of Rs 320 from each JJ dweller in 1993 and its non-refund and non-utilisation was discussed by nine members for a total of 38 minutes.

The circular claims that ``some of the burning issues and problems confronted by Delhiites in their day-to-day living were also taken up as short duration discussions''.

The other issues taken up as short duration discussions were the water and electricity problem (three hours and 51 minutes by 16 members), distribution of gram sabha land to the landless (one hour and 58 minutes by 17 members), resettlement of JJ dwellers and the housing shortage resulting in the rapid growth of unauthorised colonies (one hour and 37 minutes by 14 members).

Delhi Assembly Speaker Prem Singh, at a press conference, claimed that only two per cent floor time was lost during the session as compared to 38 per cent in the previous House. While in the previous Assembly, members were suspended on 73 occasions and a number of times for a period ranging from three days to the entire session, in the present Assembly, only two members were suspended, that too for the remainder of the said day, which was, however, immediately revoked.