Visitors will be issued entry passes only if an MP fills up the prescribed certificate and affirms that the VIP is known to him/her personally.
Are chief ministers, ex-chief ministers, speakers and ex-speakers of assemblies, ex-ministers, ex-MPs, MLAs and MLCs a security threat to Parliament? At least that is what a circular issued for Parliament security for the upcoming winter session beginning on Tuesday seems to imply.
Members of Parliament will now need to certify bonafides of these VIPs to allow them entry into the Parliament House or its prestigious Central Hall.
They will be issued entry passes only if an MP fills up the prescribed certificate and affirms that the VIP is known to him/her personally.
The certificate pro forma reads:
"I certify that the particulars indicated in the forms are correct and that the above-named person is MLA/MLC/Speaker/Minister/Former Chief Minister/Ex-Speaker/Former Minister is known to me personally. I take full responsibility for his/her conduct while in the precincts of Parliament House, Central Hall/D.V.G."
The certificate is a "must" if the VIP wants a pass for entry into the Central Hall.
Besides listed VIPs, only spouses of sitting MPs and their blood relatives, ie only son, daughter, father and mother are allowed access to the Central Hall, but that too only if the MP certifies that "I certify that the visitor(s) is/are my blood relative(s)."(only son/daughter/father & mother).
Sitting MLA/MLCs in whose favour the Central Hall pass is issued will be allowed entry with their identity cards issued by the respective state legislatures, but they will be required to be identified by an MP if they come without an identity card.
Another circular warns that no same day visitor passes will be issued during the session except to spouses, children and close relatives of MPs, and that too to only two of them on a particular day.
Stressing that the MPs must ensure that visitors for whom they apply for pass are known very well to them personally, they need to sign an authorisation that "The above mentioned visitor/visitors is/are my relation/personal friend(s)/ are known to me personally and I take full responsibility for him/her/them."
The MPs are required to apply for the visitors' pass at least a day in advance by 1600 hours, the circular added.
