AP Assembly Speaker calls for ‘No Work, No Pay’ and ‘Right to Recall’ for absent legislators

Lucknow/Amaravati: Raising serious concerns over accountability in legislatures, Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Chintakayala Ayyannapatrudu on Wednesday proposed the implementation of a ‘No Work, No Pay’ rule for elected representatives who fail to attend legislative sessions.

He further suggested that if absenteeism continues, voters should be empowered with a ‘Right to Recall’ their representatives.

Speaking at the 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference being held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, the Speaker addressed the theme ‘Legislative Accountability to the People’ and made a strong case for reforms to restore public trust in democratic institutions.

Some MLAs haven’t attended the House since 2024 elections

Referring to the situation in the Legislative Assembly, the Speaker expressed deep anguish that since the June 2024 elections, some members have not attended the House even for a single day, nor participated in debates.

Despite this, he noted, such members continue to draw salaries and allowances regularly, calling it “deeply distressing” and unethical. He warned that such conduct erodes the credibility of legislatures in the eyes of the public.

Two key reform proposals

Highlighting the absence of clear rules to act against non-attending legislators, Ayyannapatrudu urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to guide corrective measures.

He placed two major suggestions before the conference:

1. No Work, No Pay: Just as government employees face salary cuts for not reporting to duty, legislators who do not attend the House should be denied pay and allowances.

2. Right to Recall: If representatives consistently neglect their responsibilities, the Constitution or the Representation of the People Act should be amended to grant voters the power to recall them.

Falling number of legislative working days is concerning

The Speaker also voiced concern over the steady decline in the number of legislative working days across the country, describing it as a sign of systemic ill-health.

He stressed that legislatures should function for at least 60 days a year, enabling meaningful question hours and debates to hold governments accountable.

Appeal for introspection

Warning that public trust in elected representatives is steadily weakening, Ayyannapatrudu called upon legislators to engage in introspection and align their conduct with the aspirations of the people.

The conference was also attended by Deputy Speaker Raghurama Krishnam Raju and Assembly Secretary General Prasanna Kumar.