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Shri Somnath Chatterjee
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As the Presiding Officer of
directly elected House of the People, the Lok Sabha, Speaker is one of the
highest constitutional functionaries in India’s Parliamentary system. The
sustenance of people’s faith in the democratic institutions depends a
great deal on the finesse and effectiveness with which the Speaker conducts
the proceedings of the Lower House of Parliament. Indian Parliament, down
its history, has had a galaxy of eminent Speakers, who have lent dignity and
prestige to the Chair. Shri Somnath Chatterjee joined this illustrious line
of Speakers, when he was elected unanimously to the exalted position on 4
June 2004. As Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru said, the Speaker represents the nation,
its freedom and liberty.
Born in Tezpur, in Assam on
25 July 1929 to Shri N.C. Chatterjee and Smt. Binapani Debi, Shri Chatterjee
had his education in Calcutta and the United Kingdom. He is M.A (Cantab) and
Barrister-at-Law from Middle Temple in U.K. Shri Chatterjee is married to
Smt. Renu Chatterjee. They have one son and two daughters.
Political
Career
Shri Somnath Chatterjee
began his career as a lawyer and joined active politics in 1968, when he
became a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). His ascendance in
national politics began with his election to the Lok Sabha for the first
time in 1971. Since then, he has served as a Member in all successive Lok
Sabhas, getting elected for the tenth time in 2004 to the current 14th Lok
Sabha. From 1989 till 2004, he was the Leader of the CPI(M) in Lok Sabha.
His repeated victories in Lok Sabha elections with impressive margins
testify to his popularity with the masses, his standing in the party and his
towering stature as a parliamentarian.
As
a Parliamentarian
With an abiding faith in
parliamentary democracy, Shri Somnath Chatterjee has served as a
distinguished parliamentarian for over three and a half decades. He has
carved a niche for himself as an eloquent speaker and an effective
legislator. In recognition of his immense and invaluable contribution in the
strengthening of India’s parliamentary system, he was conferred the
“Outstanding Parliamentarian Award” in 1996. He has contributed richly
to the deliberations of the House since 1971 by participating in the debates
on important issues. Shri Chatterjee has never missed a chance to champion
the cause of the working classes and the deprived people, by effectively
articulating their issues. His debating skills, clear understanding of
national and international issues, command over the language and the wit and
humour with which he presents his viewpoints in the House make him an
eminent parliamentarian, who is heard by the House with rapt attention.
His speeches in the House
reveal a lawyer’s mastery over the rules and regulations governing the
conduct of business. Throughout his parliamentary career, he has set an
example in upholding the values and traditions that enhance the dignity of
the House and give strength to the institution of Parliament. Shri
Chatterjee has adorned several parliamentary Committees as Chairman and as
Member. He served with distinction as Chairman, Committee on Subordinate
Legislation and Committee on Information Technology (2 terms), Committee of
Privileges, Committee on Railways, Committee on Communications (3 terms). He
has been a Member of the Rules Committee, General Purposes Committee,
Business Advisory Committee and the Ethics Committee, to name a few. He was
associated as a Member of several Joint Committees and Select Committees,
particularly the ones requiring expertise in law. As a Barrister and as a
senior lawyer, he has brought his legal acumen to the sphere of legislation,
both in the House and its Committees.
Election
as Speaker of Lok Sabha
By unanimously electing
Shri Somnath Chatterjee, Speaker of the 14th Lok Sabha on 4 June 2004, the
House was creating history. For the first time, it was electing the Speaker
pro-tem as Speaker of the Lok Sabha. On 4 June, 2004 the Leader of the
Congress Party, Smt. Sonia Gandhi moved the Motion proposing the election of
Shri Somnath Chatterjee as Speaker. The Motion was seconded by the Defence
Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. It is significant that the Leaders of 17
other Parties in Lok Sabha also had proposed his name which was seconded by
Leaders of other Parties. When the Motion was put before the House for
consideration and vote, the House adopted it unanimously and Shri Somnath
Chatterjee was elected Speaker unopposed.
Congratulating Shri
Chatterjee on his election to this exalted office of the Speaker, the Prime
Minister, the Leader of Opposition and the Leaders of all Political Parties
in the Lok Sabha, expressed confidence in his ability to preside over and
conduct the proceedings of the House in an impartial and dignified manner,
upholding the highest traditions of Parliamentary Democracy, in the country,
in the evolution of which his own contribution has been quite significant.
Replying to the
felicitations, Shri Somnath Chatterjee said:
I
do not have words adequately to express my feelings for the great honour
bestowed on me and I accept the same with all humility and gratitude......
The
Fourteenth Lok Sabha has got the people’s mandate to usher in a new era.
This is a unique responsibility bestowed on this august House. Our country
has made progress in various fields since Independence. However, a lot more
needs to be done for the benefit of the common people. We have to ensure
that the creative potential and energies of our people are harnessed for
fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of various sections of our society,
particularly the deprived and the dispossessed, by providing a pro-people
secular administration.
..........Nowadays
considerable criticism is being faced by the Members of Parliament about
their failure to maintain decorum and dignity in the House. The behaviour
and conduct of some legislators have become subject of justified criticism
and, in some cases, even of ridicule. Unfortunately, there is developing
more and more an attitude of confrontation than cooperation in our political
life which finds its reflection in the House. We should resolve to change
this perception in the minds of the people by our own conduct, both inside
and outside the House.
As
Speaker
As Speaker, Shri Somnath
Chatterjee symbolises the dignity and credibility of the Lok Sabha and the
entire system of parliamentary democracy.
Shri Somnath Chatterjee has
taken initiatives in improving the conduct of House proceedings and he has
given many important rulings and landmark decisions in this regard. His
conduct of the proceedings of the House during the Trust Vote of 22 July,
2008 evoked widespread appreciation from a cross section of citizens from
India and overseas.
In order to ensure
structured discussion on important issues in the House, Shri Chatterjee has
been holding Meetings with Leaders of political parties on a regular basis,
before and during all Sessions. Important matters involving misconduct have
been referred to the Privileges Committee or a Specially Constituted
Committee which has resulted in expulsion and suspension of Members of
Parliament.
He has, in consultation
with the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, revised the rules for Committee Tours.
Reports of International Tours, Conferences and Visits by Parliamentary
Delegations overseas are now placed on the Table of the House.
Shri Chatterjee has taken
an active interest in the Training and Orientation of newly elected Members
of State Assemblies. Apart from regularly addressing the Conference of
Presiding Officers of Legislature in States and U.T.s, he has addressed the
newly elected Members of the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha (Bhopal/ 21 June,
2004); Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha (Jaipur / 2 July, 2004); Maharashtra
Legislature (New Delhi / 2-4 March, 2005); Kerala Legislative Assembly (Thissur,
/ 7 August, 2005) ; Bihar Vidhan Sabha (Patna / 6-7 February, 2006). He also
addressed the Chairmen of the Committees on Government Assurances of
Parliament and State / U.T. Legislatures (New Delhi / 31 October, 2006).
Shri Chatterjee has been
invited across the country to address distinguished gatherings on
contemporary subjects of regional, national and international importance. He
addressed, The Delhi Union of Journalists at the Seminar on ‘Parliament,
Press and the People’ (New Delhi/ 23 February, 2005); The Seventh Joint
Convention of the Pakistan – India Forum for Peace and Democracy (New
Delhi/ 25 February, 2005); The Delhi University at the 3 –day National
Meet on the Theme “A dialogue on North-East” (New Delhi/ 2 March, 2005);
The 22nd Asian Parliamentary Meeting on Population and Development (New
Delhi/ 23 April, 2006); The Seminar on Nepal organized by the South Asian
Foundation and the Vichar Nyas (New Delhi / 22 May, 2006); the Book Release
Function, “Kashmir, Virasat or Siyasat” (New Delhi / 26 May, 2006); The
Conference of Ministers of Health, Agriculture/ Livestock on Avian Influenza
Control and Pandemic Preparedness in Asia (New Delhi/ 28 July, 2006).
Shri Chatterjee has
delivered Lectures at Functions organised by various prestigious Societies
and Institutions. He spoke at the 9th J R D Tata Memorial Oration (New
Delhi/ 30 March, 2005) on the subject “Towards Population Stabilization;
Role of Good Governance”; 6th D P Kohli Memorial Lecture (New Delhi / 28
April, 2005) on “Parliamentary Democracy in India – Present and
Future”; 2nd Nani Palkhivala Lecture (New Delhi/ 12 May, 2005) on “The
Scheme of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances in the
Constitution”; V K Krishna Menon Memorial Lecture (Ernakulam/ 6 August,
2005) on “Making Democracy relevant for the Common Man”;Golden Jubilee
celebrations of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Hyderabad/ 3
December, 2005) on “Role of Parliamentary Democracy in Strengthening the
Nation”; 1st Lecture in the Delhi University Lecture Series (New Delhi / 8
March, 2006) on “Challenges before Indian Democracy”; 9th G V Mavlankar
Memorial Lecture (New Delhi/ 24 August, 2006) on “ Judiciary and
Legislature under the Constitution”; Rajyothsava Day of the State of
Karnataka and the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the High Court of
Karnataka on “Justice Delivery System : Issues and Problems” (Bangalore,
1 November, 2006); Concluding function of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of
the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Hyderabad (4 November, 2006); Dr.Ambedkar
Memorial Lecture on “Law and Social Change” at Aligarh Muslim University
(Aligarh/ 24 February, 2007); 26th Annual Convocation of The Institute of
Rural Management, Anand, Gujarat on “Rural India: Developmental
Challenges” (Anand, Gujarat/ 3 April, 2007); Dr.K.N.Katju Memorial Lecture
on “Separation of Powers and Judicial Activism in India” (New Delhi/ 26
April, 2007); The 2nd Annual Convocation Address at the West
Bengal National University of Judicial Sciences (Kolkata/ 23 June, 2007);
Sarat Chandra Bose Memorial Lecture on “India at Sixty : Achievements and
Challenges” (Kolkata/ 1 September, 2007); Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial
Lecture on “Status of Parliamentary Democracy in India” (New Delhi/ 14
November 2007);
N. L. Belekar Memorial Lecture on “The Role of Legislature and Judiciary
in Protecting and Enhancing the People’s Rights in our Democracy” (Nagpur/
18 February 2008). Lokanath Choudhury Memorial Lecture on
“India at 60 – An Agenda for Inclusive Development” (Bhubaneswar/ 8
June 2008); E.M.S. Namboodiripad Memorial Lecture on “Democratic
Consolidation: The Indian Experience” (Thiruvananthapuram/ 13 June, 2008);
Parliamentary
Diplomacy
A widely traveled person,
Shri Chatterjee has been Member of several Government and Parliamentary
Delegations. As Speaker, he has led the Indian Parliamentary Delegation to
111th Assembly of the IPU in Geneva (28 September – 1 October,
2004), 112th Assembly of the IPU on “The impact of Domestic and
International Policies on the situation of Women”, in Manila (3- 8 April,
2005); 113th Assembly of IPU in Geneva (17-19 September, 2005);
115th Assembly of IPU in Geneva (16-18 October, 2006). He led
Indian Parliamentary Delegation to the 50th Commonwealth Parliamentary
Conference in Canada (31 August – 1 September, 2004); 51st Commonwealth
Parliamentary Conference in Nadi, Fiji Islands, 1-10 September, 2005; 52nd
Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Abuja, Nigeria (1-10 September,
2006); 18th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference in
Nairobi, (3-8 January, 2006) ; CPA Mid-year Ex Co Meeting, Isle of Man, (3-6
May, 2006); 100th Anniversary of the Parliamentary Reforms in Finland at
Helsinki (1-4 June, 2006); CPA/Wilton Park Conference, London (5-9 June,
2006); Mid-Year CPA Executive Committee in Cyprus (16-20 April, 2007). He
has led IPDs to Japan (1-8 November, 2004), Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey,
Germany (31 May to 13 June 2005), The People’s Republic of China (3-8
July, 2006) and Greece (25-28 September, 2006), Saudi Arab (9-13 February,
2007) and Vietnam (22-28 March, 2007). During the visit to China, the Indian
Parliament signed its first MOU with its counterpart in China seeking to
enhance Parliamentary exchange and cooperation; He also led the Indian
Parliamentary delegation to Cuba (6-10 January, 2008) and The Republic of
Bulgaria (16-20 June, 2008). Shri Chatterjee led the Indian Parliamentary
delegation to 54th CPA in Malaysia (1-9 August, 2008).
To enhance India’s
prestige abroad, special efforts have been made by the Hon’ble Speaker to
improve the quality of presentations during important International
Conferences, such as Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, (CPA), Inter-
Parliamentary Union (IPU) and other Seminars and Workshops.
Primarily, due to the
special diplomatic efforts of the Hon’ble Speaker of Lok Sabha, Shri
Hashim Abdul Halim, Speaker of West Bengal Legislative Assembly, was elected
by an overwhelming majority as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of
the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association on 2 September, 2005 at the CPA
Conference, Nadi (Fiji) for a 3 – year term. This honour came to an Indian
delegate after 20 years! In September 2006, Shri Chatterjee was elected as
the President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association at Abuja,
Nigeria. Under his leadership and able guidance, India successfully hosted
the 53rd CPA conference in New Delhi during September, 2007 where
achievements of India in diverse fields were showcased to 52 countries. Shri
Chatterjee led the Indian Parliamentary Delegation to the 117th
Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union at Geneva (5-10 October, 2007). He
attended the 19th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers
of the Commonwealth in London (2-6 January, 2008).
Friendship
Groups
As of now, there are 57
Friendship Groups with Parliaments of other countries in different stages of
constitution/ re-constitution. Out of these, 33 Groups such as China, Germany, Mongolia, Russia, Vietnam, Greece
etc. have been formally constituted, with the appointment of their
office bearers. The main object of these Friendship Groups is to enhance
contacts and interactions between them and their counterparts in the foreign
countries. The parameters of interactions have been worked out in
consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs. The Friendship Groups
are now associated with various Programmes during visits of foreign
dignitaries to India, which was not done earlier.
Televising
proceedings of the House
On the initiative of Shri
Chatterjee, the proceedings of the ‘Zero Hour’ were telecast live from 5
July 2004. Shri Chatterjee believed that the move was in recognition of the
people’s right to know and was not aimed at disciplining the members, nor
did he think it would expose Parliament to criticism. To provide a more
comprehensive media coverage of Parliamentary proceedings, a full- fledged
24 –hour Lok Sabha Television Channel has become operational with effect
from July 24, 2006. This has led to a virtual extension of the Visitors
Gallery of the House across the country and is expected to bring the people
closer to the Parliament. This is the only one of its kind in the world.
Effective
Oversight of Government
Yet another significant
initiative taken by Shri Chatterjee is in respect of the functioning of the
Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSCs). The Direction 73A
provides that the Minister concerned shall, once in six months, make a
Statement in the House on the status of implementation of recommendations
contained in the Reports of the DRSCs of Lok Sabha with regard to his/ her
Ministry. This has considerably helped in the implementation of the
recommendations of the Committees, which are generally unanimous. There has
also been a marked increase in the number of ‘Calling Attention Motions’
and ‘Adjournment Motions’ during the 14th Lok Sabha. During the term of
the 14th Lok Sabha, a total of 113 Calling
Attention Motions and 7 Adjournment Motions have been called till date.
The Hon’ble Speaker has
advocated that the Members themselves should not vote on their pay and
allowances and that the same should be done by an independent Commission.
The Leader of all Parties supported the suggestion. Accordingly, a proposal
was submitted to the Prime Minister for creating an institutional mechanism
for fixation of the pay and allowances of the Hon’ble Members, from time
to time.
Administrative
Reforms in Lok Sabha Secretariat
A comprehensive Cadre
Review of the different Services in Lok Sabha Secretariat has been
undertaken at the Hon’ble Speaker’s initiative with a view to
re-assessing manpower requirement, their effective deployment, charting
improved career prospects and upgrading functional efficiency, transparency
and accountability. A total of 1787 promotions including Gazetted - 744 and
Non-Gazetted- 1043 have been effected since 4 June, 2004.
Hon’ble Speaker has delegated administrative and financial powers to
the Secretary General to empower the administrative apparatus of the
Secretariat and foster true decentralization. A Grievance Redressal
Mechanism has been set up in 2005 to enable staff to ventilate and resolve
their service-related problems. A Transfer Policy for Staff has been
enunciated to avoid ad-hocism. A Pay Committee has been set up after
Government’s acceptance of Sixth Pay Commission recommendations.
Interaction
with Media
Hon’ble Speaker has been
holding regular meetings with the Media, before and after the Sessions.
These have been particularly useful in explaining and clarifying various
issues relating to the House proceedings. Orientation Programmes have also
been organized by BPST for Media Persons accredited to the Press Gallery of
Parliament, which has been highly appreciated. The Press Advisory Committee
is being encouraged to hold national seminars and workshops involving their
counterparts from the various States.
Highlighting
India’s Democratic Heritage
Another important
initiative taken by Shri Chatterjee has been the setting up of a high-tech
Parliamentary Museum on India’s democratic heritage which was inaugurated
by the Hon’ble President of India on 14 August, 2006. The Museum lucidly
present the various phases in the evolution of Indian democracy. This Museum
is open for public viewing and is a big draw especially for students.
Parliamentary
Forums
Parliamentary Forums on (i)
Water Conservation and Management, (ii) Children, (iii) Youth and (iv)
Population and Public Health, were established in 2005-06 for the first time
to equip the Members of Parliament with information and knowledge regarding
developments in these sectors and also to make them adopt a result-oriented
approach towards related issues. A forum on Global Warming and Climate
Change has also been constituted.
Lecture
Series for MPs
Apart from conducting
regular training programmes, BPST, under the Hon’ble Speaker’s advice,
has, in 2005, started a “Lecture Series” for the Members of Parliament
on various important issues including “Water Conservation” by Ms.Sunita
Narain, Director, CSE (17 August, 2005) ; “Need for Having a Value Added
Tax System” by Dr. Parthasarathi Shome, Advisor to Hon’ble Minister of
Finance (24 August, 2005) ; “Children’s Development: Challenges Facing
India” by Ms. Ann Veneman, Executive Director, UNICEF (9 December, 2005) ;
“Right to Information as an Instrument For Rural Development” by Smt.
Aruna Roy (15 December, 2005) ; “India’s Challenges to meet the
Millennium Development Goals” by Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director, Earth
Institute at Columbia University, New York, USA (3 August, 2006);
“Perspectives on the 1857 uprising” by Prof. Irfan Habib, Professor and
Head of Department of History (Retd.), Aligarh Muslim University (9 May,
2007); “Farm Crisis: Why have over a lakh farmers killed themselves during
the last decade?” by Shr P. Sainath, Rural Editor, The Hindu (6 September,
2007); ‘Global Warming and Climate Change’ by Former Vice President of
the United States of America, Mr. Albert Arnold Al Gore, Jr. (14 March
2008); “Climate Change: Implications for India” by Dr.R.K.Pachauri,
Chairman, Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change and Director General,
TERI (25 April, 2008)
Consulting
Exercises
Hon’ble Speaker has been
regularly consulting Experts in order to seek their inputs on important
policy and programmatic issues. Wide-ranging discussions on important
Constitutional issues such as the separation of powers between the
Executive, Legislature and Judiciary have been taken up. A Round Table with
eminent persons from diverse fields was held on 4 September, 2008.
Widening
access to Parliament Library
Till recently, the rich
collection of books and journals in the Parliament Library was accessible
only to Members of Parliament. On the initiative of the Hon’ble Speaker,
access to the Library has been extended to Research Scholars from
Universities and Institutions of repute as well as Journalists accredited by
the PIB and Government officials.
Children’s
Corner
Shri
Chatterjee has taken initiative of setting up a well designed, colourful and
hi-tech Children’s Corner with an objective of inculcating and encouraging
good reading habits among children and to enable them to share the resources
of the Library, Museum and Archives of Parliament.
Other
Important Events
At the initiative of
Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha, a Function was organized in the Central Hall
of Parliament House to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of First War of
Indian Independence. Various dignitaries and eminent artistes were present
to grace the occasion. Shri Chatterjee has taken keen interest in having
various cultural programmes of Members of Parliament and Children organized
in the Parliament. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of
Independence, a special function was also organized in the Central Hall of
Parliament. The
‘Prof. Hiren Mukerjee Memorial Annual Parliamentary Lecture’ was
instituted in honour of the legendary parliamentarian, outstanding
scholar and veteran leader, Prof. Hiren Mukerjee. The
inaugural lecture was delivered by Nobel Laureate Prof. Amartya Sen on the
theme “Demands of Social Justice” in the Central Hall of Parliament on
11 August, 2008.
Shri
Somnath Chatterjee, The Multifaceted Personality
Shri Chatterjee, is a
multifaceted personality with varied interests that range from education and
sports to constitutional studies. He is a people’s man in every sense of
the term. He is a modern man, with strong ideological underpinnings but
wedded to liberalism. He combines an unwavering commitment to the basic
principles and values of India’s democracy with a rare ability to
transcend political divides. He believes in giving equal importance to
industrial and agricultural sectors and works hard for the advancement of
both. He was the Chairman of the West Bengal Industrial Development
Corporation for over a decade and visited many countries in promoting the
State as an attractive investment destination.
Shri Chatterjee is actively
associated with a large number of socio-cultural, educational and
professional institutions and trade unions. Through these organisations, he
is engaged in constructive activities, such as the uplift of the deprived
and the downtrodden and eradication of illiteracy. A keen sports enthusiast,
he loves watching sports events and is associated with several sports
organisations and clubs. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the
Mohan Bagan Athletic Club, the Cricket Association of Bengal and the Bengal
Table Tennis Association etc.
Member of
the Lok Sabha since 1971, Shri Somnath Chatterjee has been a role model for
Parliamentarians. A highly accomplished lawyer, a trade unionist, an
articulate and effective Parliamentarian, a leader of stature, and now the
Speaker of the world’s largest democracy, his record will be difficult to
break. Throughout his public life he has been infusing a sense of respect
among our people in the institutions of democracy and thereby sustaining the
people’s faith in them. Being acutely aware of the disenchantment of the
common people with the imperfections in the
system, he has been eager to correct them, constantly reminding those in
Parliament of the growing cynicism among the people and that unless
correctives are applied, the people would lose faith in the efficacy of
Parliamentary democracy as a system of governance. Shri Chatterjee has been
passionately trying to infuse into the working of the Lok Sabha greater
transparency and accountability so as to restore it to a position of
pre-eminence as the highest forum of the world’s largest democracy.
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