Friday, June 3 2005 17:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The first Communist Speaker of Lok Sabha Somnath Chatterjee completes one year in office tomorrow (Jun 4, 2005) earning bouquets and brickbats through a tumultuous period in which the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) often resorted to disruptions and boycott on various issues.

The period witnessed frequent turmoil in the House over issues like the 'tainted' Ministers despite the Speaker going an extra mile to pamper an agitated Opposition with which he had an uneasy relationship.

A highlight of the year was Chatterjee's proactive approach on questioning the Supreme Court's verdict in the Jharkhand Assembly issue in which he felt the apex court had crossed the "Lakshman Rekha" set by the Constitution.

Though an all-party meeting convened by him on the issue was boycotted by the BJP and Congress later sought to distance itself from the outcome, Chatterjee had his moment of glory when the Presiding Officers' Conference convened by him endorsed his viewpoint.

Another action of the Speaker that endeared him to several MPs was his questioning the Election Commission's authority to prevent the MPs from entering their own constituencies.

There have been many a first in the first 12 months of Chatterjee's speakership, which includes showing Zero Hour live on TV and telecasting the entire proceedings of Lok Sabha live on satellite channel 'DD Lok Sabha'.

By doing this, the Speaker has virtually extended the Visitor's Gallery of the House to every cable home in the Country.

In a move aimed at telling the people about what business the House has transacted in the previous week, he has started making a statement in the House on every Tuesday with details regarding the usage of House time.

He has also mooted a proposal to set up an independent Commission to determine salaries and allowances of MPs to replace the present system of MPs deciding their own salaries.

Chatterjee has also started efforts to evolve consensus on opening up of Committee proceedings.

The sincerity of the Speaker to utilise maximum time of the House has been misconstrued often by the Opposition which had been at loggerheads with him at times.

The Opposition plan to boycott Parliamentary Committees some time back, which was retracted after some time, was a case in point.

The Speaker, for some members, appeared to be a hard task master as he revised the guidelines on tours of Parliamentary Committees listing out a 19-point 'do's and don'ts' to Honourable Members which was not liked by a section which felt its tone and tenor was offending in nature and showed the members in poor light.

The Speaker also enforced strict discipline by Indian parliamentary delegations on tours abroad for bilateral visits as well as international conferences.

As per the maxim of 'charity begins at home', Chatterjee himself refused to travel by luxurious or bulletproof vehicles while on tours as also did not accept official vehicle for spouse or accept official monetary allowances while on tours abroad.

He has also continued to pay out of his own resources for expenditure incurred on day-to-day hospitality at his official residence.

Besides, he has brought about drastic reduction of expenditure in Speaker's Office and issued strict instructions against its misuse for seeking or giving undue favours. He has also donated a month's salary and allowances and Rs 11 lakh from MPLADS fund for the cause of tsunami victims, apart from organisations working for the handicapped.

In view of the West Bengal Assembly Speaker Hashim Abdul Halim's two decade long experience as Presiding Officer, Chatterjee has made him the candidate for the post of Chairman of Executive Committee of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association instead of becoming himself a candidate.

Chatterjee has taken keen interest in the creation of the state-of-the-art Parliament Museum and Archives, which will be ready by August 15 next year, besides taking steps to make Parliament's Library facilities to researchers.