Naidu, Birla seek report on feasibility of holding Parl panel meetings online

NEW DELHI: After a discussion on the coronavirus situation in the country, Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday directed the secretaries general of both Houses of Parliament to explore the possibility of holding parliamentary committee meetings through video-conference.
Earlier, senior parliamentarian and BJD leader Bhattruhari Mahtab and several members of Parliament had pitched for committee meetings to be held through online platforms during the lockdown. Mahtab had written to Birla on the issue.
After their meeting on Thursday, sources said Naidu and Birla asked both secretaries general to submit a report on the matter.
Naidu and Birla discussed the role of MPs during the coronavirus pandemic and considered alternative ways to hold committee meetings in the prevailing situation which will not allow physical presence of MPs in a room in the immediate future, sources said.
“They have directed the secretaries general of both the Houses to examine in detail the pros and cons of parliamentary committees holding meetings by video-conferencing by taking into considerations the present Rules of Business of both the Houses of Parliament, the practices and experiences of various countries in respect of such virtual meetings and the time required to enable secure technology platforms required for such mode of meetings,” a statement from the chairman’s office said.