Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has directed the Lok Sabha Secretariat to address certain deficiencies in the notice of no-confidence motion submitted by Opposition members seeking his removal from the Office of the Speaker.

Sources in the Lok Sabha indicated that the Secretariat had flagged shortcomings in the notice, including references to four incidents that allegedly took place in February last year. Under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, such references could have rendered the notice liable for rejection at the preliminary stage. However, Mr Birla has asked the Secretariat to rectify the procedural defects and process the notice in accordance with established rules. He has also instructed that necessary action be taken expeditiously.

The no-confidence motion, submitted by Congress-led Opposition parties, is expected to be considered during the second phase of the Budget Session of Parliament, scheduled from March 9 to April 2.

The notice was submitted to the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha and bears the signatures of 118 Members of Parliament belonging to various Opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Left parties. Members of the Trinamool Congress, however, did not sign the notice.

Opposition parties have alleged that Mr Birla conducted proceedings in a partisan manner in the House, a charge that has intensified political tensions ahead of the upcoming session.

In a significant development, Mr Birla has decided, on moral grounds, that he will not attend the proceedings of the House until the no-confidence motion against him is resolved. The move is being viewed as an attempt to uphold the dignity of the Chair while allowing the prescribed parliamentary process to take its course.

The coming session is expected to witness sharp exchanges, with both the government and the Opposition preparing to assert their positions within the framework of parliamentary procedure.