• Source:JND
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Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday clarified the issue of abrupt 'turning off' of the microphone, raised by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The Speaker said that the presiding officer of the House does not have the control switch of the microphones installed at the table of every parliamentarian. This came in response to Rahul Gandhi's charge that his mic was switched off for the second time in the present session of the 18th Lok Sabha.

Om Birla took strong objection to the issue, noting that members casting doubt on the chair with such allegations is against the dignity of the Speaker's post. “This is a matter of the dignity of the Chair. At least those who occupy the Chair should not raise such objections. (K) Suresh also occupies the Chair. Does the Chair have control of the mic,” the Speaker said.

While LoP has maintained that his voice was muffled inside the House, it is crucial to know who controls the microphone provided to members at their desks.

Who Controls Mic In Parliament

According to a Lok Sabha Secretariat manual, published in 2014, every member of parliament has been provided with a microphone at their desk. These are accompanied by a switch panel with multi-coloured buttons on it. The grey switch can be pressed to ask for permission to speak. The microphone LED lights up in red colour if it is activated. Only if the member is allowed to speak, his/her mic will turn on.

The microphone is switched on from a control room after the Speaker allows a member to speak.

Mic Controversy Stems From NEET Discussion

Rahul Gandhi had alleged that his mic was turned off when he tried to raise his voice for the students suffering from the NEET paper leak and other irregularities in exams conducted by NTA. This follows another charge by LoP, in which, he said that the cameras were taken away while he was trying to make a point in the House.