REPORT OF THIRTEEN SESSION OF EIGHTH LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Panaji: March 18, 2026

The recently concluded session of the Goa Legislative Assembly, held from March 6 to March 16, witnessed a mix of substantive legislative business alongside moments of disruption, including an incident of sloganeering from the Visitors’ Gallery and instances of disruptions by members during proceedings.

Against this backdrop, the role of the Speaker, Dr Ganesh Gaonkar, came into focus, with the Chair intervening at various stages to ensure that the business of the House continued in accordance with established parliamentary norms and procedures.

While disruptions are not uncommon in legislative bodies, the need to maintain decorum was repeatedly emphasized during the session. The Speaker was seen cautioning members across party lines to allow orderly debate, particularly when a member had the floor, reinforcing the principle that every elected representative must be heard without interruption.

The Secretariat of the Assembly also indicated that maintaining order is a shared responsibility, requiring cooperation from both the Treasury and Opposition benches. The interventions by the Chair were viewed as necessary to uphold the standards expected of a legislative institution and to ensure that proceedings reflected the mandate entrusted by the people of Goa.

The broader principle of neutrality associated with the office of the Speaker was also echoed in recent remarks by the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, in the Parliament of India, who observed that the Speaker belongs to the entire House and acts as a protector of the rights of all members. This perspective resonated with the conduct of proceedings during the Goa Assembly session.

As the session concluded sine die, there was general recognition that, while moments of disorder did arise, the proceedings overall continued with a degree of firmness and restraint under the Chair, reflecting the ongoing effort to preserve the dignity and effectiveness of the House.

DI/INF/AXP/SAG/SM/2026/1327