Shimla: Students from Auckland House School, Lakkar Bazar, Shimla, and the Law Department of Himachal Pradesh University visited the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Secretariat on Monday and witnessed the Assembly proceedings. They also interacted with Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania outside the Council Chamber and gained insights into the parliamentary system.
During the interaction, the Speaker explained the functioning of the democratic system in the country, including the roles of the Vidhan Sabha, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha. He informed students that larger states also have Legislative Councils, but Himachal Pradesh, being a smaller state, does not have one.
Pathania described the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha as the highest temples of democracy. He explained that Members of Parliament elected to the Lok Sabha collectively form the House, and the party with the majority forms the government at the Centre. The leader of the majority party becomes the Prime Minister, followed by the formation of the Council of Ministers. He added that members of the Rajya Sabha are elected indirectly by elected representatives of state assemblies.
He further informed that the Lok Sabha currently has 543 members, while the Rajya Sabha has 245 members, of which 233 represent states and Union Territories and 12 are nominated by the President of India. The tenure of Lok Sabha members is five years, while Rajya Sabha members serve for six years. The Rajya Sabha is known as the Upper House and the Lok Sabha as the Lower House.
Speaking about state legislatures, Pathania said that members of the Vidhan Sabha are directly elected by the people, and the party with a majority forms the government in the state. He emphasized that the power to make laws rests with the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha.
Responding to a query during a digital media interaction, the Speaker said that arrangements would soon be made for specially-abled children to visit and witness Assembly proceedings. He also noted that today’s students are well aware of the parliamentary system, which was evident during a recent children’s session where students effectively played the roles of Chief Minister, ministers, and Speaker.
Encouraging the students to observe proceedings firsthand, he invited them to watch the Assembly from the visitors’ gallery. Deputy Chief Whip of the Himachal Pradesh Government, Kewal Singh Pathania, was also present on the occasion.