Om Birla defended the impartiality of his conduct while presiding over the Lok Sabha as he returned to the Speaker’s chair on Thursday, a day after the Opposition’s no-confidence motion against him was defeated in the House. In his first remarks after the vote, Birla said he had consistently tried to ensure that every Member of Parliament received an opportunity to speak during proceedings while emphasising that no individual, including the Leader of the Opposition, holds authority above the House.
During his address, Birla made a pointed reference to the privileges of the Leader of the Opposition, widely seen as a response to recent confrontations involving Rahul Gandhi. He stated that some members appeared to believe the Leader of the Opposition could speak on any subject at any time, but clarified that parliamentary procedures do not grant such privileges. According to Birla, the House functions strictly according to established rules and procedures.
He added that even the country’s top leadership must follow the same rules. According to him, both the Prime Minister and Union ministers are required to submit formal notices before making statements in the House, reinforcing the principle that parliamentary conduct is governed by procedure rather than individual status.
The Speaker’s remarks came after a dramatic session on Wednesday when Opposition parties moved a no-confidence motion against him, accusing him of partisan conduct while presiding over debates. The motion was ultimately rejected through a voice vote following a nearly 12-hour debate inside the Lok Sabha.
Tensions between the Opposition and the Speaker had escalated during the first phase of the Budget Session. Members of the Indian National Congress repeatedly accused Birla of not allowing Rahul Gandhi to speak on several issues raised in the House. One such controversy erupted in February when Gandhi was prevented from addressing the House regarding the unpublished memoir of former Army chief Manoj Mukund Naravane, leading to a major protest by Opposition members.
The situation intensified further after eight Congress MPs were suspended, prompting Opposition parties to formally submit a notice seeking the Speaker’s removal. The notice was reportedly supported by signatures from 118 Members of Parliament.
Responding to the accusations, Birla firmly rejected claims that he had acted in a partisan manner. He said that throughout his tenure he had tried to conduct proceedings with impartiality, discipline and balance while strictly adhering to the rules governing parliamentary debate.
Addressing another allegation raised during the debate, Birla also rejected claims that he personally controls the microphones of MPs inside the House. In an emotional explanation, he said the presiding officer does not possess any switch to manually turn microphones on or off.
According to Birla, microphones are activated automatically only for the member who has been formally recognised by the Chair to speak. He noted that opposition members who have previously served as presiding officers are aware of this procedure and understand how the system operates.
Before concluding his remarks, Birla said he had always encouraged MPs who are hesitant to participate in debates to express their views in the House. He also pointed out that the recent debate marked only the third occasion in independent India’s history when the Lok Sabha discussed a no-confidence motion against its Speaker.
Birla reiterated that he remains committed to ensuring that every member gets an opportunity to present their views, provided that the discussion takes place within the framework of parliamentary rules and procedures.
