The Parliament Secretariate says the issue that has arisen because the no-confidence resolution against the Speaker of the Parliament has not been submitted to the Parliament can be resolved through the system within the legislative house.
It made this announcement during the Supreme Court hearing of the case submitted by MDP seeking clarification from the country's top court after the session which would have seen the submission of the resolution be canceled after the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament called in sick.
MDP is seeking clarification on whether another MP can chair the session though the Parliament Standing Order states that only the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament can chair the session that debates on a no-confidence resolution against the Speaker.
Yesterday, Counsel General of the Parliament Fathimath Filza said that another MP can take the place of the Deputy Speaker for such a session only by amending the Standing Order and that this has been recommended to the MPs.
Speaking at today's hearing, Secretary General of the Parliament Fathimath Niusha said that the Parliament Secretariate does not have the power to hold sessions outside of the special procedural points indicated in Article 205 of the Parliament Standing Order. She further said that it does not have the power to set who can chair the sessions under Article 44 of the Standing Order and that only the Parliament holds these powers.
Filza said that since the resolution is yet to be submitted as per Article 205, and as the situation predicted in this Article has yet to be created, the Secretariate believed that the current predicament of the Parliament can be resolved through the system within the legislative house.
The Secretary General of the Parliament went on to recommend four solutions for this including the General Committee bringing about the required amendment as per Article 108 of the Parliament Standing Order and submitting to the floor for approval.
