Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel described Presiding Officers as the custodians of the soul of democracy, emphasizing that their impartiality, wisdom, and adherence to parliamentary decorum are essential for transforming legislative houses into effective platforms for public aspirations. She was addressing the inaugural session of the 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference, being held in Lucknow from January 19 to 21, 2026.
Welcoming Presiding Officers and public representatives from across the country, the Governor said that the conference stands as a living symbol of the strength, dignity, and continuity of India’s parliamentary traditions. She noted that Lucknow’s legacy of tehzeeb (civility), dialogue, and coordination adds a special grace to the national-level deliberations.
Governor Patel said the conference would serve as a powerful platform for the exchange of experiences, preservation of best parliamentary practices, and creation of innovations in legislative functioning. Referring to Uttar Pradesh’s cultural, historical, and democratic heritage, she said the state has long been a center of Vedic culture, philosophy, and democratic consciousness.
She stressed that the effectiveness of a legislative house is not determined by the number of debates held, but by the quality of discussions focused on public welfare, supported by facts, and oriented towards solutions. “When dialogue is transformed into solutions, parliamentary democracy becomes stronger and more credible,” she said.
Terming disruptions in legislative proceedings as a serious challenge to democracy, the Governor warned that such interruptions hinder discussions on public interest issues and weaken public trust in democratic institutions. She described diversity of opinion as the strength of democracy and called upon members to accept dissent as a democratic virtue.
Referring to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s suggestion on defining and ensuring adequate working time for legislative assemblies, Governor Patel said this proposal deserves serious implementation to make legislative work more effective, organized, and people-centric. She also appreciated the book “Parliamentary Practices and Procedures of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly”, published under the guidance of Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana, calling it an important guide to parliamentary discipline and democratic values.
Expressing confidence in the outcome of the conference, the Governor said it would strengthen national unity and provide a new direction to India’s parliamentary democracy, making it more inclusive, robust, and citizen-oriented.
Addressing the conference, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that irrespective of their political affiliations, Presiding Officers must conduct themselves in a completely fair, impartial, and non-partisan manner—and must also be seen as such. He expressed concern over the declining number of sittings of legislative bodies across states, calling it a matter of collective चिंता.
Emphasizing the need to ensure fixed and adequate time for House proceedings, Birla said, “The more the House functions, the more meaningful, serious, and result-oriented discussions become possible.” He added that in the age of information technology and social media, public scrutiny of representatives has increased, making parliamentary discipline and decorum more important than ever.
He concluded by stating that platforms like the All India Presiding Officers’ Conference strengthen cooperation among democratic institutions, enhance coordination, and contribute to more effective governance across the country.
