December 12, 2024 05:04 (IST)
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SC asked govt not me to clarify stand on LOP: Speaker
New Delhi, Aug 23 (IBNS): A day after the Supreme Court expressed concern that the union government is functioning without a Leader of Opposition (LOP) in the lower house of Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Saturday said the court has asked the government to explain its stand on the matter not her.
"The Supreme Court has asked the BJP government to explain its stand. It has not asked me for any clarification. The Attorney General will inform the court about the government's stand on the Leader of Opposition with regard to Lokpal appointment," Mahajan said.
She said, "My job was to decide whether a leader should be recognised as a Leader of Opposition or not and that decision has been taken based on numbers. No opposition party has more than 55."
This comes after the apex court told the government about its worries over the position remaining vacant since it "conveys a voice different from the government's" and hence crucial for democracy.
The court asked the centre of reply on the issue within four weeks, said media reports.
The Congress has claimed the position of Leader of Opposition in Parliament despite having only 44 members in the lower house.
The court made the observations while hearing a petition on Lokpal by senior lawyer and Aam Aadmi Party leader Prashant Bhushan.
Reacting to the court's concern, Congress said the government must respond.
"It is an assault on democracy," said Congress leader Manish Tewari on the position lying vacant and they being denied the post. He said it is incumbent upon the government to reply now to the court.
Earlier, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had officially declined the Congress party's request for the post of the Leader of the Opposition in Lower House as it lacks the number of required seats for the same.
In her ruling, the Speaker reportedly said there are two conditions required to be fulfilled for appointment as the Leader of Opposition -- that one has to be a recognised party, and it should have 55 members in the House.
But the Congress does not fulfil the second condition as it has only 44 MPs in the Lok Sabha, which is less than one tenth of the total strength of the House required for the same.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi had earlier said the Leader of Opposition post should go to Congress party, after their electoral drubbing at the hands of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Gandhi said as the largest party it should get the status.
Congress earlier indicated they could even go to court over the issue.
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