Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Adds New Rule for Taking Oath

New Delhi [India], July 4: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has introduced a new rule that members must not use any additional words or slogans when taking their oath. This change, effective from June 28, was made after some MPs used slogans like ‘Jai Samvidhan’ and ‘Jai Hindu Rashtra’ during their oaths.

Om Birla made an amendment to ‘Direction 1’ of ‘Directions by the Speaker’ and added a new clause (3) after clause (2). The new clause states, ‘A Member shall make and subscribe oath or affirmation, as the case may be, in accordance with the form set out for the purpose, in the Third Schedule to the Constitution of India and shall not use any word or expression or make any remark as a prefix or suffix to the form of oath or affirmation.’

The Speaker had earlier expressed concern over members using words beyond the requisite text while taking oath and had said he will form a panel. Some members had raised slogans like ‘Jai Samvidhan’ and ‘Jai Hindu Rashtra’ while taking oath. A member had also raised ‘Jai Palestine’ slogan.

The first session of the eighteenth Lok Sabha concluded on Tuesday. New members took oath and the House adopted a motion of thanks to the President’s address after a debate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi replied to the debate.