NEW DELHI: Dismissing the allegation of TMC Rajya Sabha MP
Mamata Bala Thakur
that she was barred from taking oath in the name of the guru of her community,
deputy chairman Harivansh
said Mamata Thakur while taking her oath in
Bangla
made voluntary changes like replacing the word "God" with the name of her deity, which amounted to a violation.
"This is a violation of Article 99 of the Constitution which dictates a format for the oath to Parliament...
The chairman of the House ordered her to take the oath again, which she complied with," Harivansh told ANI. He added that nominated members can take an oath according to the 3rd Schedule of the Constitution. They can take oath in the languages listed in the eighth list of languages.
"The Constitution does not allow any difference from the prescribed rules as it will be considered illegal and it will be considered null and void... There have been previous cases of deviations as well and (they) have been dealt with by the chairman of the house accordingly," he added.
Referring to an earlier Kerala high court order, officials said the it had ruled that if a person chooses to take the oath, he has to swear in the name of "God" and none else. The court had also observed that every person has to conform to the prescribed "form" and otherwise, it has to be assumed that the person has not taken the oath. The purpose of prescribing to the form is to induce a sense of subordination to the Constitution in people of all faiths.
English (US) ·