Miffed over Karnataka government’s failure to provide answers to questions, Speaker abruptly adjourns Assembly

In a uncommon improvement successful the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Speaker U.T. Khader connected Monday (March 16, 2026) abruptly adjourned the House, expressing disappointment with the authorities for failing to supply answers to questions raised by members contempt repeated directions.

The Speaker’s enactment came aft Ministers and departments failed to taxable written replies to a fig of unstarred questions submitted by members. Opposition members had been repeatedly complaining astir this.

Only 84 replies

When the Speaker asked the authorities to array answers connected March 16, Home Minister G. Parameshwara placed 84 replies against the 230 sought.

Expressing beardown displeasure, Mr. Khader said helium had issued wide directions from the Chair 4 times. “This league is not meant for ministers. It is meant for legislators who conscionable erstwhile successful 3 months to rise issues concerning their constituencies. Only 15 starred questions are taken up during Question Hour. If a bulk of unstarred questions spell unanswered, wherefore should members travel to the House?” helium asked.

Stating that determination had been nary betterment contempt repeated warnings, Mr. Khader said, “Until the ministers and the acrophobic secretaries explicate this lapse, I volition not tally this House.” He went connected to adjourn the proceedings.

Repeated warnings

Before the adjournment, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka said it was the firth clip the Speaker had warned the authorities implicit the issue.

Last week, Mr. Khader had cautioned ministers saying: “Just due to the fact that I talk softly, bash not mistake it for my weakness.” He had pointed retired that lone astir 30% of unstarred questions had received replies.

On Friday (March 13, 2026), of the 133 unstarred questions, lone 50 were answered, prompting crisp disapproval from BJP members. Taking a swipe astatine the government, Mr. Ashoka sarcastically asked whether elder officials were “busy playing play and spending clip successful clubs” alternatively of assisting ministers successful preparing replies.

Senior BJP subordinate S. Suresh Kumar suggested constituting a authorities furniture sub-committee to analyse the contented and taxable a report. Another BJP member, S. Sunil Kumar, made a tongue-in-cheek proposition that a committee headed by H. N. Nagamohan Das beryllium formed to probe the reasons for the denial of answers.

Meeting with CM

After adjourning the House, the Speaker held a gathering with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and elder officials of assorted departments to resoluteness the issue.

Sources said the Chief Minister directed the Chief Secretary to suspend officials who failed to supply answers to ‘unstarred’ questions during the session.

Following the meeting, the Speaker resumed the proceedings, stating that the authorities would explicate the reasons for the hold successful furnishing replies. The House was aboriginal adjourned for lunch.

BJP reacts strongly

Meanwhile, Mr. Ashok described the adjournment of the House arsenic a “murder of democracy” successful a station connected X.

“What unfolded successful the Karnataka Assembly contiguous is an unprecedented disgrace — a nonstop battle connected the instauration of the Legislature,” helium said.

“For the archetypal clip successful the State’s history, the Speaker was forced to adjourn the House due to the fact that ministers of the authorities failed to taxable written replies to questions raised by MLAs,” helium added.