Wednesday, August 31 2005 15:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee yesterday (August 30, 2005) said he would be happy if there are more sittings of Parliament and has directed Parliamentary Standing Committees to submit their reports within three months.

"I will be happy if there are more sittings," he said addressing his customary end-of-the-session press conference, but insisted that the Houses should function effectively and the sittings should be utilised properly.

He denied any move to curtail the sessions and said it was but natural that compared to the past the sessions were shorter due to the mechanism of Parliamentary Standing Committees.

Concerned over the delay in submission of reports by Parliamentary Standing Committees, Chatterjee said he had directed that they should complete their task within three months.

"If the House is not in session, the reports can be submitted to the Speaker so that they can be on passed to the concerned Ministries to help them draft the relevant Bill," he said.

The Speaker said he was trying his best to have more programmes, like discussions on important matters, on Parliament Channel. He said a Media Advisor has been appointed for three months to advise on the programmes in consultation with the Information and Broadcasting (I and B) Ministry for full utilisation of the Parliament channel.

Parliament sources said former Information and Broadcasting Secretary Bhaskar Ghose has been appointed to the key post.

Chatterjee said during a recent discussion with young MPs, a proposal was mooted to form a Forum on Youth to act as a tool to motivate the youngsters across the country to take part in nation building and to choose politics as a mode of public service in a constructive manner.

He parried direct reply to a question on submission of a privilege notice against Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, saying the incident (of throwing papers at the podium) has not added to the glory of the House or country.

He also evaded a question on whether there was any confrontation" between the judiciary and the legislature saying while "judgements are binding on all, the Judges make their observations in all their wisdom".

Asked to comment on the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) programme, he said as a member of the House, he had said that it was not right, as there were no rules on how the money should be spent. He also referred to the report on the functioning of MPLAD schemes.

Likening himself to a "strict headmaster", Chatterjee said he was trying to take up two calling attention motions a ay "with cooperation from everybody", though each such motion consumed 40 to 45 minutes.