NEW DELHI, APRIL 30: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee is understood to have initiated the process for taking action against those members who have been obstructing the proceedings of the House. It is not clear how many people would be on the receiving end of Chatterjee. However, the inclusion of one member, Chandrapal Singh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, is almost certain. As he repeatedly interrupted proceedings despite warnings during Zero Hour on Wedensday, Chatterjee told him clearly that he would face action.

The Speaker registered his unhappiness on the conduct of BSP member Brajesh Pathak on April 24 when he repeatedly obstructed Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ram Vilas Paswan from giving a reply to a question on the supply of fertilizers made to UP. The Speaker, who was threatening Pathak with an action, suddenly found himself face-to-face with a larger problem—the entire NDA bloc came to the well and started shouting slogans. Clearly, he could not have singled out Pathak for any punitive measure and overlook the collective indiscipline by the Opposition. It is not known if Pathak and the erring NDA members, whose names the Speaker directed the table staff to not down, would be listed for a punitive move too.

According to Rule 349, no member is supposed to “interrupt any member while speaking by disorderly expression or noises of in any other disorderly manner” and “shall not obstruct proceedings...” Rule 374 provides that the Speaker may “name a member if he disregards the authority of the Chair or abuses the rules of the House by persistently and willfully obstructing the business thereof.” If a member is so named by the Speaker, he would be suspended from the House for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session. This time, Speaker seems inclined to take a tough stand to “discipline” members, but it is difficult to guess about the fall-out of any extreme measure. Obviously, the aggrieved side would not silently submit to it.