In a rare development in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Speaker U.T. Khader on Monday (March 16, 2026) abruptly adjourned the House, expressing disappointment with the government for failing to provide answers to questions raised by members despite repeated directions.
The Speaker’s action came after Ministers and departments failed to submit written replies to a number of unstarred questions submitted by members. Opposition members had been repeatedly complaining about this.
Only 84 replies
When the Speaker asked the government to table answers on March 16, Home Minister G. Parameshwara placed 84 replies against the 230 sought.
Expressing strong displeasure, Mr. Khader said he had issued clear directions from the Chair four times. “This session is not meant for ministers. It is meant for legislators who meet once in three months to raise issues concerning their constituencies. Only 15 starred questions are taken up during Question Hour. If a majority of unstarred questions go unanswered, why should members come to the House?” he asked.
Stating that there had been no improvement despite repeated warnings, Mr. Khader said, “Until the ministers and the concerned secretaries explain this lapse, I will not run this House.” He went on to adjourn the proceedings.
Repeated warnings
Before adjournment, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka said it was the fifth time the Speaker had warned the government over the issue.
Last week, Mr. Khader had cautioned ministers saying: “Just because I speak softly, do not mistake it for my weakness.” He had pointed out that only around 30% of unstarred questions had received replies.
Meeting with CM
After adjourning the House, the Speaker held a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and senior officials of various departments to resolve the issue.
Following the meeting, the Speaker resumed the proceedings, stating that the government would explain the reasons for the delay in furnishing replies. The House was later adjourned for lunch.
When the House met after lunch, Mr. Parameshwara assured on behalf of the government that strict measures would be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents. “Adjourning the legislature session for such a reason is rare, perhaps the second or third in the State’s legislature history,” he admitted.
He told the House that the Speaker had held a meeting with the Chief Minister, himself and Leader of the Opposition and others soon after adjourning the House. “Following your direction, the Chief Minister called the Chief Secretary and told her to issue strict instructions to the secretaries of all the departments to provide replies promptly without fail to the questions put up in the legislature session,” he said.
‘Exemplary’ move
Leader of the Oppositon R. Ashok described the Speaker’s conduct of adjourning the House to express his displeasure as “exemplary” and pro-people. He appealed to him to warn the ministers and initiate action against the guilty officials.
Expressing anger over a few IAS officers, he said, “Some IAS officers do not have time to attend the session, but have all the time on earth to play golf.”
On X, Mr. Ashok said, “What unfolded in the Karnataka Assembly today is an unprecedented disgrace — a direct assault on the institution of the Legislature,” he said.
In Council too
In the Legislative Council, Leader of the Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy raised concerns over the absence of Ministers in the House and the delay in providing replies to questions raised by members.
Supporting the concern, JD(S) member S.L. Bhoje Gowda said, “Today, replies were expected for about 140 questions, but only around 40 questions received responses,” he said, criticising the government.
Published - March 16, 2026 05:57 pm IST
