Tamil Nadu Speaker restricts advance publicity of Assembly notices under Rules 55, 56

Chennai, August 24: Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar on Monday directed members and the media not to publicise notices submitted under Rule 55 of the Assembly Rules and motions for adjournment under Rule 56 until these are formally admitted by the Speaker.

The directive follows observations that some legislators, after submitting written notices to the Speaker and the Assembly Secretary, were releasing them to the press and on social media platforms, including their personal X accounts. “They also post them on their X pages and other social media accounts. This is not allowed under Rule 36(5),” the Speaker said, while requesting the media to refrain from publishing such notices before they are approved.

Rule 36(5) of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Rules states: “A notice shall not be given publicity by any member or any other person until it has been admitted by the Speaker and circulated to the Members.” The Speaker’s remarks were made during the ongoing session, underscoring the procedural requirement that notices remain confidential until officially accepted.

Under Rule 55, members may raise matters of urgent public importance with prior written notice, while Rule 56 allows motions for adjournment to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance. Both provisions are used to draw the House’s attention to pressing issues, but the rules mandate that the Speaker first decides on their admissibility.

The Speaker’s appeal to the media is significant because premature publication of such notices can influence public perception before the House has formally considered them. Political analysts note that the practice of leaking notices has grown with increased social media usage by legislators, leading to procedural concerns about the dignity of the House and the neutrality of the Speaker’s scrutiny.

Opposition members have not yet issued a formal response. However, the directive applies uniformly to all members, irrespective of party affiliation. The media’s cooperation has been solicited to ensure that the Assembly’s rules are respected and that the legislative process remains orderly.

This is not the first time a presiding officer has enforced Rule 36(5). Similar instructions have been issued in other state legislatures, reflecting a broader concern about the premature public airing of parliamentary notices. The Speaker’s clarification is intended to remind members that the admissibility process is a safeguard against frivolous or disruptive motions, and that publicity prior to admission undermines the authority of the Chair.

The Assembly session is set to continue, and the Speaker’s direction will be observed in the coming days as members submit fresh notices under these rules.