Put MPs on par with CJs: House panel

The Committee registered its displeasure over the fact that Members of Parliament were placed at the end,Number 21,of the Warrant of Precedence,“much below their status and lower to persons not holding constitutional offices and even bureaucrats”. Those featuring at Number 17 include not only Chief Justices of High Courts,but also chairpersons of CAT,Minorities Commission,National Commission for Scheduled Castes and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes,besides Puisne Judges of high courts.

Interestingly,if pushed up to Number 17,the MPs will be ahead of Cabinet ministers of state governments,who are currently ranked at Number 18.

The committee sought to get former Speakers of the Lok Sabha on to the Warrant of Precedence at the same level as Union Cabinet ministers,former prime ministers and Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Former Speakers of the Lok Sabha do not figure in the list yet. The Speaker is presently placed at Number 6,along with the Chief Justice of India.

The panel referred to what it called “recurrent instances” of protocol violations and discourteous behaviour by government officials while dealing with MPs,and said,“Due courtesies and regard are not being shown to MPs by government officers.” The committee was of the view that there was a need for a consolidation of circulars issued on different subjects by various ministries and departments of the Central government from time to time. The committee endorsed a draft revised consolidated circular,prepared by the DoPT in consultation with the Cabinet Secretariat,to be sent to state governments and Central ministries on the issue of extending due courtesy to MPs.

A penal clause had been inserted in the revised circular under which “violations of these instructions would entail departmental inquiry and punishment to the guilty officials as per rules”.

The committee called for permission to MPs to use red beacon lights atop their vehicles and recommended that the Ministry of Surface Transport issue a notification on this count.