New Delhi, March 6 The Congress has issued a directive to its MPs, requiring them to be present in the Lok Sabha from March 9 to 11. The notice seeking the removal of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is likely to be taken up next week.
The Lok Sabha will convene for the second phase of the Budget session on March 9.
The Lok Sabha is likely to take up the notice to move a resolution to remove Birla, alleging that he acted in a "blatantly partisan" manner.
The Congress issued the three-line directive, requiring its MPs to be present in the Lower House for the first three days of the second half of the Budget session, sources said.
The Speaker can be removed from office if a resolution is passed by the House by a simple majority. Article 94C of the Constitution provides for such a move. Article 96 allows the Speaker to defend himself or herself in the House.
The language of the proposed resolution is usually examined by the Deputy Speaker, but since the current Lok Sabha does not have a Deputy Speaker, it may be examined by the senior-most member of the panel of Chairpersons. The panel helps to run the House in the absence of the Speaker.
The resolution alleges that Birla acted in a "blatantly partisan" manner while conducting the business of the House and "abused" the constitutional office he holds.
Three Lok Sabha Speakers - G V Mavlankar (1954), Hukam Singh (1966), and Balram Jakhar (1987) - have faced no-confidence motions in the past, which were all defeated.
