**Executive Summary**
Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla addressed concerns about declining dignity and decorum in legislatures during the Foundation Day of the Bihar Legislative Assembly in Patna on February 7, 2026. He emphasized the importance of preserving the sanctity of legislative institutions, constructive criticism, and legislative oversight for a strong democracy. Birla also inaugurated the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) Digital House in Bihar Legislature.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Legislative Dignity and Decorum:**
* Concern expressed over the decline of dignity and decorum in legislatures.
* Maintaining the dignity and decorum of the House is a fundamental responsibility.
* Emphasis on dialogue, reasoned debate, and constructive engagement among members.
* **Empowered Legislators and Democracy:**
* Empowered legislators are the foundation of a strong democracy.
* Legislators contribute to strengthening democracy by raising public issues and articulating citizen concerns.
* Empowerment rooted in ethical conduct, responsibility, and accountability.
* **Legislative Effectiveness:**
* Constitutional awareness and procedural knowledge enhance the credibility of legislators.
* Effective legislators act as a link between public expectations and government policies.
* Legislators should pay attention to issues affecting rural and remote areas.
* Robust responses to the aspirations of women and youth must be reflected in public policies.
* **Digitalisation in Legislature:**
* Inauguration of the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) Digital House in Bihar Legislature.
* NeVA is a significant step towards transparency and efficiency.
* Digitalisation facilitates access to records, enhances research capabilities, and reduces dependence on paper.
* **Bihar's Democratic Significance:**
* Traditions of collective deliberation, public dialogue, and participatory governance practiced in ancient Bihar remain relevant.
* Preserving Bihar's rich heritage is a collective responsibility.
**Impact Analysis**
**Legislators**
* **Impact**: Expected to uphold legislative dignity and decorum, engage in constructive criticism, and enhance knowledge of parliamentary procedures.
* **Action Required**: Place greater emphasis on dialogue, reasoned debate, and constructive engagement, and utilize digital tools for efficiency.
**Citizens**
* **Impact**: Greater transparency, accountability, and responsiveness from elected officials.
* **Action Required**: Engage with legislators, raise concerns, and expect resolution through legislative processes.
**Democratic Institutions**
* **Impact**: Renewed credibility and public confidence through empowered, informed, and responsive legislators.
* **Action Required**: Support legislators in upholding ethical conduct, responsibility, and accountability.
**Bihar Legislative Assembly**
* **Impact**: Modernization of legislative processes through the implementation of NeVA.
* **Action Required**: Fully implement and utilize NeVA to improve transparency, efficiency, and access to records.
Key Entities Referenced
Lok Sabha Speaker: The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, is a key figure in ensuring legislative decorum and oversight.
Bihar Legislative Assembly: The legislative assembly of Bihar is the context for the Lok Sabha Speaker's address and the inauguration of the NeVA Digital House.
National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA): A digital platform aimed at improving efficiency and transparency in legislative work in state assemblies.
Om Birla: The Lok Sabha Speaker who made the statements about legislative conduct and inaugurated NeVA digital house.
Lok Sabha Secretariat
LOK SABHA SPEAKER EXPRESSES ANGUISH
OVER DECLINE IN DIGNITY AND DECORUM IN
LEGISLATURES
LOK SABHA SPEAKER STRESSES ON MEANINGFUL
LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT THROUGH CONSTRUCTIVE
CRITICISM
EMPOWERED LEGISLATORS FORM THE VERY
FOUNDATION OF A STRONG DEMOCRACY: LOK SABHA
SPEAKER
CONSTITUTIONAL AWARENESS AND PROCEDURAL
KNOWLEDGE ENHANCE CREDIBILITY OF LEGISLATORS:
LOK SABHA SPEAKER
BIHAR’S DEMOCRATIC TRADITION HAS PROVIDED
INTELLECTUAL FOUNDATION TO INDIA’S PARLIAMENTARY
SYSTEM: LOK SABHA SPEAKER
LOK SABHA SPEAKER ADDRESSES MEMBERS OF BIHAR
LEGISLATURE ON THE OCCASION OF FOUNDATION DAY OF
BIHAR LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
LOK SABHA SPEAKER INAUGURATES NEVA DIGITAL
HOUSE IN BIHAR LEGISLATURE
Posted On: 07 FEB 2026 8:09PM by PIB Delhi
Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla today expressed anguish over decline of dignity and decorum in
legislatures. Emphasising the need to preserve the sanctity of legislative institutions, Shri Birla stated that
maintaining the dignity and decorum of the House is a fundamental responsibility of every public
representative. The Legislature, he said, is a vital institution of democracy, and its dignity must be
respected and preserved at all times. He expressed concern over instances of disruptions and disorderly
conduct in legislative proceedings and observed that such practices adversely affect the image of
democratic institutions. He urged members to place greater emphasis on dialogue, reasoned debate and
constructive engagement. He further added that criticism should be policy-oriented, fact-based and aimedat public welfare. Parliamentary discipline and meaningful legislative oversight through constructive
criticism strengthen democracy, the Speaker mentioned. Shri Birla made these remarks while delivering
inaugural address on the programme on “Empowered Legislators, Stronger Democracy” on the occasion
of foundation day of Bihar Legislative Assembly in Patna, today.
Observing that empowered legislators form the very foundation of a strong democracy, Shri Birla stated
that the strength of democracy is directly linked to the capacity, competence and integrity of its elected
representatives. He observed that democratic institutions derive their effectiveness not merely from
constitutional provisions, but from the manner in which public representatives discharge their
responsibilities. A legislator derives strength from the trust and confidence of the people, he noted. By
raising public issues, articulating citizens’ concerns and working towards their resolution through
legislative processes, legislators contribute significantly to strengthening democracy, he added. Shri Birla
opined that empowerment of legislators lies in their ability to understand public needs, engage
meaningfully in legislative procedures and contribute constructively to policy formulation. Such
empowerment, he added, is rooted in ethical conduct, responsibility and accountability. These values alone
enable legislators to consistently act in the larger public interest. When legislators are empowered,
informed and responsive, democratic institutions gain renewed credibility and public confidence, stressed
Shri Birla.
Observing that constitutional awareness and procedural knowledge enhance the credibility of legislators,
Shri Birla emphasized that a legislator, who is well-versed in parliamentary procedures, is better equipped
to make meaningful interventions and ensure transparency and accountability in governance. He stated
that an effective legislator acts as an important link between public expectations and government policies.
He further stated that familiarity with rules enables legislators to participate more effectively in the house
proceedings and articulate their views in a structured and logical manner. Through informed participation
in debates, discussions and committee work, legislators contribute to improvement in the quality of
governance. Public trust, the Speaker observed, is the most valuable asset of democracy and must be
preserved through sincere and principled conduct both inside and outside the House.
He emphasized on the need to pay special attention to issues affecting rural and remote areas, which often
remain underrepresented. Shri Birla suggested that the robust responses to the aspirations of women and
youth must be reflected in public policies and legislative initiatives. Women and youth, he observed, are
key stakeholders in the nation’s development, and addressing their concerns through appropriate
legislation is essential for achieving inclusive growth.
Shri Birla also inaugurated the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) Digital House in Bihar Legislature.
Referring to the implementation of NeVA in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, the Speaker described it as a
significant step towards transparency and efficiency. Digitalisation, he stated, facilitates access to records,
enhances research capabilities and reduces dependence on paper. He encouraged legislators to make
effective use of digital tools in legislative work. With the collective efforts of the legislatures, the clarion
call of the Prime Minister for ‘One Nation, One Legislative Platform’ is going to be a reality soon, noted
Shri Birla.
Referring to the historical significance of Bihar in the journey of India’s democracy, Shri Birla noted that
the traditions of collective deliberation, public dialogue and participatory governance practised in ancient
Bihar remain relevant even today. He stated that the democratic values nurtured on this land have provided
a strong ideological and moral foundation to India’s contemporary parliamentary framework. He further
observed that Bihar has consistently remained a centre of political thought and leadership. Leaders from
the State, he said, have played an important role in shaping the nation’s political discourse and democratic
institutions. He emphasised that preserving this rich heritage and making it relevant to present-day
governance is a collective responsibility of elected representatives.Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and of Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju; Deputy Chairman,
Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh; Chairman, Bihar Legislative Council, Shri Awadhesh Narain Singh; Deputy
Chief Minister, Bihar, Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha; and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Government of Bihar,
Shri Vijay Kumar Chaudhary also addressed the distinguished gathering on this occasion. Speaker, Bihar,
Legislative Assembly, Dr. Prem Kumar delivered the Welcome Address and Deputy Speaker, Bihar
Legislative Assembly, Shri Narendra Narayan Yadav delivered the Vote of Thanks.
आज बहार वधान सभा के ापना दवस के अवसर पर, बहार वधान मंडल के सट्रल हॉल म आयोजत
समारोह म सहभागता कर माननीय सद के मध्य “सशक्त वधायक-सशक्त लोकतंत्र” वषयक
ाख्यान म अपने वचार भी साझा कँगा।
बहार क यह भूम उन प्राचीन गणराज्य क वरासत लए जानी जाती ह, …
— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) February 7, 2026
बहार वधान सभा के ापना दवस के उपलक्ष्य म "सशक्त वधायक, सशक्त लोकतंत्र" वषय पर
ाख्यान कायक्रम के लए पटना पँचन े पर बहार वधान परषद के माननीय सभापत ी अवधेश
नारायण सह जी, वधान सभा अध्यक्ष डॉ. प्रेम कु मार जी, राज्य के उप मुख्यमंत्री ी वजय कु मार सा
जी,… pic.twitter.com/72HIv8qFhH
— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) February 7, 2026
बहार वधान सभा के ापना दवस के उपलक्ष्य म, बहार वधान मंडल के सट्रल हॉल म आयोजत
समारोह म सहभागता कर माननीय सद के मध्य “सशक्त वधायक-सशक्त लोकतंत्र” वषयक
ाख्यान को सोधत कया।
बहार क यह पावन भूम प्राचीन गणराज्य क लोकतांत्रक परपं राओ ंका वह क द्र… pic.twitter.co
m/8L40Xi3RKJ
— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) February 7, 2026
जनप्रतनध वधायी सदन का साम होते ह। सदन क मयादा जनप्रतनध पर टक होती ह।
सदन क मयादा और प्रता म कमी हम सभी के लए चता का वषय ह। इसीलए लगातार
राजनीतक दल से चचा कर सदन को मयादत और संवाद का क द्र बनाने क ओर हमारा प्रयास रहता
ह। pic.twitter.com/H1rghmcABj
— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) February 7, 2026
***
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