MPs' Code of Conduct, amendments to Standing Orders debates next month

The Code of Conduct (CoC) for MPs and amendments to Standing Orders (SOs) will be taken up for debate in Parliament in the first week of October, Parliament officials said.

If adopted, these would see radical changes in making the Parliamentary process more transparent and accountable, as well as contribute towards increased participation by MPs across the divide, in the Lawmaking process.

The final drafts of the CoC and amendments to the SOs were tabled in Parliament in June, after over a year of consultations. Amendments to the SOs will see formalisation of the Prime Minister’s question time, introduction of electronic voting, live telecast of proceedings and an expanded Committee on Privileges to include Ethics.

The rules for MPs to refrain from speaking have been expanded to stop conversations using verbal communication devices (telephones) and entering the Well of the House while debates are in progress.

The amended SOs also change the method to be adopted for the removal of Judges including the Chief Justice, providing for the appointment of a panel consisting of three retired Judges of the Supreme Court to investigate the alleged misbehaviour or incapacity of the Judge concerned, instead of the present seven-member Parliamentary Select Committee tasked to hold such an inquiry.

These new SOs will also give more leverage for the Speaker to rule in instances where debates are interrupted, citing the subject under discussion as sub judice, allowing him to permit the debate to proceed if he “is of the opinion that there is no real and substantial danger or, prejudice to the outcome of the judicial proceedings before court.”