NEW DELHI, Nov 25
Emphasising the confidentiality of the Government’s replies during Question Hour, the Lok Sabha secretariat has instructed MPs to use their portal exclusively and not share the information on it with anyone until the hour-long session is over.
In its Bulletin-2 dated November 10, the Lok Sabha secretariat said that “since the replies are log-in and password protected on the Members’ Portal, they are exclusively for the use of Members only”. Members are, therefore, requested to maintain confidentiality of the replies and not to share the contents with others until the Question Hour is over,” it said.
The bulletin came a day after the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee recommended TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s expulsion following its probe into the cash-for-query allegations levelled against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
In the bulletin, the Lok Sabha secretariat has informed MPs that the contents of the replies made are “strictly confidential” until the question has been asked and then answered in the House. In case a question does not come up for oral answer, it said, the reply should not be released until the Question Hour is over.
A reply made in the House becomes public the moment it is made as the Question Hour proceedings are telecast live, and is available on the website soon after.
“Questions included in the lists of written answers are also to be treated as confidential until the same have been laid on the Table of the House after the Question Hour is over,” the bulletin said.
Taking a swipe at Moitra, Dubey shared the bulletin on X, saying the “accused, corrupt MP was perhaps not informed about these by a PA like Hiranandani”.
