Hemani Kandhari
February 5, 2026: Several Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) raised serious concerns in the House over what they described as reduced authority and lack of respect compared to civil administrative officers such as Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADCs) and Tehsildars.
The issue was raised by MLAs including Nizamuddin Bhat, Pawan Gupta, and others, who said that elected representatives are often sidelined in official matters despite being public representatives. During the discussion, the Speaker of the House intervened and asked the Chief Minister to look into the matter. The Speaker also informed the House that he has written to the Hospitality and Protocol Department regarding the issue.
MLAs pointed out that on important national occasions like Republic Day (January 26) and Independence Day (August 15), they are often made to stand behind while officials with civil administrative powers are given prominence, including the honour of unfurling the national flag. They said this practice hurts the dignity of elected representatives.
The legislators highlighted several other difficulties they face in day-to-day functioning, stating that their recommendations are frequently ignored by the administration. They demanded clear guidelines to ensure proper protocol, respect, and authority for MLAs.
The House was informed that the matter would be examined, and the government was urged to take steps to address the concerns raised by the elected representatives.
