Nagaland: Panel reviews powers of Presiding Officers under Tenth Schedule

A meeting of the Committee of Presiding Officers constituted to review the powers of Presiding Officers under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution and the Rules framed thereunder was held on February 9-10, 2026 in Mumbai.
The committee was constituted by Speaker, Lok Sabha and chairman of All India Presiding Officers’ Conference on January 29, 2020 to examine the existing constitutional, statutory and procedural framework relating to disqualification of members on grounds of defection, and the challenges faced in discharging such functions.
The committee comprises Rahul Narwekar, speaker Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (chairman) and members– Surama Padhy, speaker Odisha Legislative Assembly; U.T. Khader Fareed, speaker Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Sharingain Longkumer, speaker Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
All four members attended the meeting held at Vidhan Bhavan, Mumbai. During the two-day deliberations, the panel undertook a comprehensive review of the legal and procedural aspects governing disqualification under the Tenth Schedule. Discussions were also held on the nature of instructions to be issued to Presiding Officers across the country. Though no final decision was taken, the committee is expected to place its recommendations at its next meeting scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar.
The meeting reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring that the powers exercised under the Tenth Schedule remain aligned with constitutional principles.
It was also informed that the Lok Sabha Speaker has nominated Sharingain Longkumer as a member of the committee to frame the Uniform Model Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Legislative Bodies.