Delhi Speaker Vijender Gupta briefs 43 foreign delegates on legislative drafting

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Tuesday hosted 43 delegates from 18 countries at the Assembly complex, sharing insights on the importance of legislative drafting in democratic governance.

Addressing the visiting delegates, Gupta said, “Legislative drafting lies at the core of democratic governance; the precision of a law determines how effectively it secures rights, ensures accountability, and shapes the everyday lives of citizens.”

The delegates from 8 countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Oman, Kenya, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Tanzania, are in Delhi to attend the 37th International Training Programme in Legislative Drafting organised by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), Lok Sabha Secretariat.

The Delhi Speaker highlighted the Assembly’s historical and institutional significance, noting that the present building, constructed in 1912, functioned as the seat of the Imperial Legislative Council and subsequently the Central Legislative Assembly under the Government of India Act, 1919.

He recalled the election of Vitthalbhai Patel as the first Indian President of the Assembly on August 24, 1925, describing it as a significant assertion of legislative autonomy under colonial rule.

Referring to the presence of national leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, during key deliberations held within the Assembly, Gupta observed that the institution has historically functioned both as a site of governance and as a space where democratic aspirations found articulation.

As part of their training programme, the delegates also visited the Assembly House. A documentary film on Vitthalbhai Patel was screened for the delegation, followed by a presentation on the coffee table publication “Ek Shatabdi Yatra”, a copy of which was also presented to the Director of PRIDE, Rajkumar, for the Lok Sabha Library.

Highlighting contemporary institutional initiatives, Gupta informed the delegation that the Delhi Legislative Assembly has adopted a series of measures aimed at strengthening efficiency, transparency and sustainability in its functioning.

The Assembly now operates entirely on solar energy, reflecting a commitment to environmentally responsible governance. The implementation of the National eVidhan Application has enabled fully paperless proceedings, ensuring greater procedural efficiency and accessibility of legislative business, he said.

–IANS

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