There is a provision for a secret meeting of Lok Sabha in parliamentary rules, but never before, know the reason

New Delhi: Parliamentary rules allow the government to call a ‘secret meeting’ of the Lok Sabha to discuss sensitive issues, but this provision has not been used yet. A constitutional expert on the matter said that during the 1962 Chinese invasion, some opposition MPs proposed to call a secret meeting of the House to discuss the issue. However, the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru did not agree to this.

A secret meeting can be held under this rule

Chapter 25 of ‘Process and Working Rules in the Lok Sabha’ provides for holding a secret meeting at the request of the House leader. Rule 248, according to subdivision one, at the request of the House’s leader, the Chairman will decide a day or one part of the House for a secret meeting. Sub -section 2 states that no stranger will be allowed to appear in a chamber, lobby or gallery when the House sits secretly. But there are some people who will be allowed during such meetings.

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No report of such action will be released

Another rule of the chapter says that the Speaker can direct that the report of the proceedings of the secret meeting be released in the way the chairman considers it appropriate. But any other present person will not keep a report or record of a secret meeting, whether it is partial or full, notes or records, or will not issue any report of such action, or will not mean to describe it.

If the proposal is passed then …

When it is considered that the need to maintain confidentiality in relation to the proceedings of a secret meeting is over, under the consent of the Speaker, the leader of the House or an authorized member can offer a proposal that the proceedings of such a meeting should no longer be considered secret. If the resolution is passed, the General Secretary will prepare a report of the proceedings of the secret meeting and publish it as soon as possible. The rules have warned that in any way on behalf of any person to disclose the proceedings or decisions of the meeting or the decisions of the House will be considered a severe violation of the privilege of the House.

When a secret meeting was proposed, but Nehru …

Constitution expert and former Lok Sabha General Secretary PDT Acharya said that no opportunity has come to hold a secret meeting of the House. he/she cited talks with the old people, saying that during the China-India struggle in 1962, some opposition members had proposed a secret meeting to discuss sensitive issues, but Nehru did not agree with it and said that the public should know.