New Delhi, 10 February (H.S.): Congress and other opposition parties submitted a no-confidence notice against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday, accusing him of bias in conducting House proceedings.

The notice, backed by 116 MPs' signatures under Article 94(c) of the Constitution, was delivered to the Lok Sabha Secretary General by Congress Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi. Signatories include MPs from Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and others, though notably absent are any from Trinamool Congress (TMC) or Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

Gogoi informed reporters that the move addresses the Speaker's repeated curtailment of opposition MPs raising public-interest issues, overt partisanship, and arbitrary suspension of eight opposition legislators merely for exercising democratic rights.

The notice highlights instances where opposition leaders were denied speaking opportunities, violating their fundamental privileges.

Per parliamentary rules, upon receipt, a date for tabling and debate— at least 14 days from the notice and typically within 10 days of acceptance—will be set; the Speaker cannot preside while the motion is pending.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar