Thiruvananthapuram: Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan on Tuesday ruled that bringing and displaying a fibre baton inside the assembly was improper. He cited provisions prohibiting members from bringing weapons and other prohibited objects into the House.The ruling came a day after CPM MLA V Joy displayed a fibre baton with a broken black handle while seeking permission to move an adjournment motion in the assembly on Monday. The baton was handed over to the watch and ward staff as directed by the chair.The speaker said the issue of whether displaying such objects inside the House was in order was raised on Monday, and he had assured members that a ruling would be issued on Tuesday after examining the relevant precedents.Referring to previous instances recorded in assembly proceedings, the speaker said the House had earlier condemned members for displaying two bottles of beer during a discussion on a bill and a packet of cannabis during a discussion on a cannabis-related issue. Rulings were issued stating that prohibited substances shouldn’t be brought into the assembly.The speaker cited a ruling issued on July 8, 2005, which stated that displaying explosive substances such as grenades inside the House couldn’t be accepted under any circumstances. The ruling had prohibited the display of explosives, lethal weapons and other prohibited articles in the assembly. Radhakrishnan also referred to Shakdher and Kaul, a parliamentary reference work, which states that displaying or producing objects inside the House to create dramatic scenes is improper.
