House passes resolution on selection of legal experts

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Assembly on Monday passed a resolution regarding selection and terms and conditions of legal experts, including the fixing as well payment of profession fee and remuneration, for engagement of legal professionals and consultants to procure necessary services for the Legislative Assembly be taken by the Speaker.

AAP legislator Madan Lal moved the resolution in the house, in pursuance of decisions taken by the Assembly’s General Purpose Committee in its meeting were held on November 17, 2017 and April 9, 2018.

Madan Lal said that whenever bureaucrats have been called by the Assembly panels, they file petitions in the Delhi High Court through advocates hired by the Lieutenant Governor, on the expenses of the elected government.

The resolution stated that the Speaker is “free to adopt the procedure that he deems to be in the best interest of safeguarding the independence of the legislature for arriving at such decision in this regard.”

“The Secretariat of the Legislative Assembly shall meet all the expenses to be incurred on this count from its budget with due approval from the Speaker alone. Any attempt in any quarter to do anything in violation of this resolve of the Assembly shall be treated as contempt of the House and Breach of Privilege of the House and all those responsible for any such contemptuous conduct shall be proceeded against as decided by the Speaker and as per the Rules and procedures of the House,” the resolution stated.