A diplomat-turned-politician, she took the initiative to organise a number of international seminars hosted by Indian Parliament since she took oath as the Speaker on June 3, 2009.
Amid indications of a stormy Winter session of Parliament, an all-party meeting has been convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Thursday to ensure that the sittings were held smoothly.
The resignation of 12 members of Parliament of various political parties from Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh has not been accepted by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.
Reminding lawmakers that they were in Parliament to protect the interest of the people, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Sunday said there was no scope of lapse in the discharge of their duties. "Rising above religion, region, caste, language etc., we are here to protect the interest of the people of the entire nation, especially the marginalised who are ignored. This leaves no scope for any kind of lapse in discharging our duties," she said.
The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, holding special sittings on Sunday, will focus on the '60 years journey of Indian Parliament' as they celebrate 60th anniversary of its first session.
Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday failed to show up at the Central Hall in Parliament to pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on the occasion of the birth anniversary of India's first home minister. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Speaker Meira Kumar and innumerable Union ministers were present at the function. A senior BJP leader admitted that the absence of the party's Members of Parliament at the function was a lapse on their part.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee on 2G spectrum scam has deferred its October 3 meeting, in view of the Lok Sabha Speaker's efforts to persuade Bharatiya Janata Party, members who have threatened to quit the panel alleging bias on his part, its chairman P C Chacko said on Saturday.
If a minister does not have the freedom of expression, it is anything but democracy. It is a sad day for the very foundations of Indian democracy, former railway minister Dinesh Trivedi tells Neerja Chowdhury
Asked whether an all-party meeting will be called to discuss the issue, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said nothing was scheduled but she will be talking.
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad was literally caught napping in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Prasad was seen catching his forty winks while being seated in his allocated first row seat, which is right in front of the Speaker's chair.
Notices have been given by various members for discussion in the Lok Sabha on various versions of Lokpal Bill, but it is not clear when the debate will be taken up.
In an embarrassment for the Congress, a party MP from Andhra Pradesh loyal to YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on Wednesday resigned from the Lok Sabha.
The Congress on Monday claimed that it will play a crucial role in the formation of the next government in Uttar Pradesh and dismissed as personal views Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma's suggestions for a tie-up with the Bahujan Samaj Party.
The government objected to the demand throwing the Lok Sabha into turmoil, while the Rajya Sabha witnessed ruling party members opposing permission by the Chair to Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley to raise the matter.
Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar on Thursday said that she is trying her best to run the house, as the Bharatiya Janata Party-led opposition stalled the proceedings on alleged irregularities in allocation of coal blocks.
The much-debated Lokpal Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday amid objections from the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies of the National Democratic Alliance over the exclusion of the prime minister from the purview of the proposed legislation.
The standoff in Parliament over remarks of Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Mani Shankar Aiyar against Opposition ended on Wednesday with the Trinamool Congress member being reprimanded by Speaker and Aiyar expressing regrets.
A usually soft-spoken Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Friday pulled up Janata Dal-United chief Sharad Yadav when he sought to challenge her authority and responded angrily to her remarks.
The plight of Sri Lankan Tamils on Monday found an echo in the Lok Sabha with All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam members seeking to embarrass a visiting Lankan Parliamentary delegation by raising slogans which was denounced by Speaker Meira Kumar.
The Lok Sabha on Monday congratulated India's badminton queen Saina Nehwal, who won her third super series title of the year at the Hong Kong Open on Sunday.
With an aim of ensuring a smooth monsoon sSession of the Parliament beginning on August 8, an all-party meeting has been called by Speaker Meira Kumar on August 6.
Dr Singh hosted a private dinner for the French leader and his wife Carla Bruni at his official residence in New Delhi, which was attended by United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and some senior Cabinet ministers, including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon.
Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned till noon on Friday when Opposition members disrupted the Question Hour for the 16th working day, demanding a joint parliamentary committee probe into the 2-G spectrum allocation scam. In the Lok Sabha, members from the Bharatiya Janata Party and its National Democratic Alliance allies, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Samajwadi Party walked into the well.
For the 12th straight working day, Parliament was on Monday adjourned till noon as Opposition members persisted with their demand for a Joint Parliamentary probe in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.A thinly-attended Lok Sabha saw members thumping their desks after Speaker Meira Kumar lauded the performance of Indian sportspersons in the recently concluded Asian Games.
The Telangana movement gathered further steam as Telangana Rashtra Samiti President K Chandrasekhar Rao and party MP and actress Vijayshanti too resigning from Lok Sabha in support of the demand for a separate state. The two faxed their resignation letters to the Speaker on Tuesday morning.
Government is likely to face stiff opposition on FDI in retail in the Monsoon session of Parliament beginning on August 8.
The imbroglio in Parliament over a joint parliamentary probe into the alleged irregularities in the 2G spectrum allocation continued for the ninth day, with the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha adjourning till noon following uproar by the opposition parties. Even before Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar could take her seat, opposition members including those from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena, Biju Janata Dal, Janatal Dal United and Samajwadi Party trooped to the well.
A High Powered Committee is being set up to suggest an alternative complex to house the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha amidst apprehensions over the structural stability of the building built in 1927.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned on Thursday following a uproar over the National Democratic Alliance's demand for the resignation of Home Minister P Chidambaram for his alleged role in the 2G scam, and some other issues. As soon as Speaker Meira Kumar called for the Question Hour, NDA members were on their feet demanding the resignation of Chidambaram. They cited a Delhi court order allowing Subramanian Swamy's re-examination as witness in his complaint against the home minister.
Joshi was again nominated by his party following which Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has reappointed him as chairman of PAC which is responsible for conducting the financial audit of various departments and ministries.
A day after a chaotic meeting of the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, its Chairperson Murli Manohar Joshi along with National Democratic Alliance, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Biju Janata Dal and Left members are exploring the possibility of submitting the draft report on 2G scam to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar before its term expires on Ffriday.
In an interview with CNN-IBN, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seemed reluctant to embrace Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as her party's choice for the post of the President of India.
More than 30 legislators of Telangana region belonging to the TRS, Congress, Telugu Desam Party and Praja Rajyam Party have announced their resignation.
The WikiLeaks expose on the alleged 'cash-for-votes' scam in 2008 on Friday disrupted Parliament proceedings, as a united Opposition demanded a clarification from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the matter. The cables published by WikiLeaks alleged that the United Progressive Alliance government had bribed MPs to win the 2008 trust vote after the Left parties withdrew support on the Indo-US nuclear deal.
The issue of price rise rocked the Parliament for the fourth day on Friday with an angry Opposition seeking to censure the government in both the Houses.The deadlock remained unresolved as an united Opposition remained adamant on a discussion on price rise under rules which entail voting, despite Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar rejecting notices of adjournment motion on the issue.Virtually no business was transacted during the entire week.
The alleged house arrest of Mulayam Singh Yadav by the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh generated heat in the Lok Sabha on Monday with Samajwadi Party members disrupting proceedings leading to two adjournments.
The issue of separate Telangana generated heat in the Lok Sabha, which witnessed two brief adjournments on Tuesday as Telangana Rashtra Samithi, Telugu Desam Party and some Congress members vociferously raised the issue.
Parliament on Wednesday unequivocally condemned the blast outside Delhi High Court and adjourned the proceedings till the government gathered facts and made a statement in both the Houses.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Monday said she was hopeful the government and opposition parties find a middle ground over the 2G Spectrum controversy so that the budget session can be held without any interruptions. She addressed mediapersons after a third round of talks in New Delhi with government nominees, independent members of Parliament and leaders of the single member parties to ensure smooth functioning of the Parliament.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances