Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addresses a press conference at the Parliament Complex ahead of the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth Parliaments, in New Delhi.
| Photo Credit:
Shahbaz Khan
Birla was addressing a press conference ahead of the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) starting on Wednesday. Meanwhile, he indicated exemplary punishment for use of cigarette in the house chamber. There is allegation against TMC MP for use of e cigarette.
The budget session of the Parliament will begin on January 28 with President Droupadi Murmu addressing the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha members assembled in the Lok Sabha chamber. A day later, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will lay the Economic Survey for Fiscal Year 2024-25. The first part of the session will conclude on February 13 and reconvene on March 9 and continue till April
Vaping
In the meantime, Birla did not rule out “exemplary punishment” over the alleged use of e-cigarette in the House, asserting that maintaining the dignity of Parliament was non-negotiable. BJP member Anurag Thakur had sent a complaint to the Speaker alleging that one Trinamool Congress (TMC) member was “openly using” e-cigarette in the House during the proceedings despite such devices being banned across the country.
“No one has the right to undermine the sanctity of the House,” the Lok Sabha Speaker told reporters here. Birla said the matter was under investigation and would be later referred to an appropriate committee of the House for further action. “We will act on the recommendation of the committee. Everyone will have to maintain decorum in the House. A member could even lose his membership,” the Lok Sabha Speaker said.
“Nobody will be allowed to lower the dignity of the House,” Birla said.
“It is a responsibility. You will have to maintain decorum inside the House and the one who does not maintain decorum will be punished under the rules and procedures of the Parliament. Action will be taken according to the rules,” the Speaker said.
Published on January 12, 2026
