New Delhi, 10 March (H.S.): The Lok Sabha erupted into procedural chaos on Tuesday as a no-confidence motion to remove Speaker Om Birla from office, tabled by Congress leader Mohammad Jawed, triggered a heated debate allocated 10 hours of House time.

Presiding Officer Jagdambika Pal occupied the Speaker's chair during initial proceedings, prompting immediate objections from opposition members who invoked House rules to demand that the House itself decide who should preside over such a sensitive discussion.

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi argued that appointing a panel presiding officer without the House's consent violates rules in the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Congress leader KC Venugopal and Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy echoed this, insisting on strict adherence to protocol.

Ruling side MPs Nishikant Dubey and Ravi Shankar Prasad countered fiercely, citing constitutional provisions and Lok Sabha rules that empower panel presiding officers to conduct business when the Speaker and Deputy are unavailable.

Over 50 opposition members then rose in unison to endorse proceeding with the debate, signaling strong backing for the motion amid accusations of the Speaker's alleged partisanship.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar