New Delhi: Observing that nowadays, considerable criticism was being faced by MPs about their failure to maintain dignity in the House, the new Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today (June 4, 2004) emphasised that discipline and decorum was an "essential pre-condition" for its smooth functioning.

"The behaviour and conduct of some legislators have become subject of justified criticism and in some cases even of ridicule and unfortunately there is developing more and more an attitude of confrontation than co-operation in our political life which finds its reflection in the House," he said.

Chatterjee was replying to his felicitation in the House after he was unanimously elected Speaker.

"We should resolve to change this perception in the minds of the people by our own conduct both inside and outside the House," Chatterjee said.

Parliament, he said, should function through debate, discussion and consensus and it can only do so if the deliberations are marked by a sense of commitment to the cause of the people and the atmosphere in the House was kept free from bitterness and acrimony.

"Unless the rules, regulations and well-established Parliamentary conventions are respected by each and every member, and unless the members exhibit mutual accommodation whenever there are differing points of view, our Parliamentary Democracy will remain imperfect," he said.