PTI

New Delhi, Jul 23: With the carrot policy failing to yield results, it could be the stick for members of Lok Sabha who misbehave in the House.

A meeting of leaders of the political parties is being convened soon by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to seek their response on a "no work, no pay" policy to ensure discipline and smooth conduct of the House.

Parliament sources said Chatterjee planned to convene the meet in the monsoon session of Parliament, expected to begin in the first week of August 2007, as he is concerned over the frequent disruptions of Parliament by MPs.

The MPs get Rs 1,000 a day as sitting allowance. Under existing provisions they get this amount once they sign the daily register. Even on days when proceedings of the House are disrupted, MPs can sign the register and claim the allowance.

Concerned at the frequent disruptions of Parliament, Chatterjee has been critical of members not behaving according to the book. He has reminded the MPs that they are part of a great institution and it is their duty to do it proud.

The proposal for "no work, no pay" was deliberated a couple of days ago at a meeting of the panel of chairmen — 10 senior members who preside over the Lok Sabha in the absence of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker — and generally received a positive response, sources said.

The sources, however, noted that Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal had some reservations.

One of the participants in the meeting even suggested that there should be a code for political parties as some of them take a decision outside Parliament to disrupt the House. This, the MP said, was an "attack on democracy and Parliament".

The Speaker has also suggested invoking some sections of the rules of Parliament proceedings, which are rarely used. Rule number 373, for example, says the Speaker may "direct any member whose conduct is, in his opinion, grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from the House...and shall absent himself during the remainder of the day's sitting."

Rule 374A provides for "automatic suspension of a member" for "grave disorder occasioned by a member coming into the well of the House or abusing the Rules of the House persistently and wilfully obstructing its business by shouting slogans or otherwise".

Parliament sources said that the Speaker also planned to tell the government to help in the smooth running of the House. Among other things, he is expected to tell the government that all policy statements during sessions should be done in Parliament.

Besides, he would ask it to give prompt responses to urgent matters of public importance raised by members through special mentions under Rule 377.

Efforts in recent years to ensure smooth running of the House have not succeeded. A meeting of the Presiding officers convened by the late G M C Balayogi, when he was the Lok Sabha Speaker, had seen political parties agreeing to a code of conduct for members, which included automatic suspension of members entering the well of the House. It had failed to take off.