(1) On receipt of a petition under rule 6, the Speaker shall consider whether the petition complies with the requirements of that rule.
(2) If the petition does not comply with the requirements of rule 6, the Speaker shall dismiss the petition and intimate the petitioner accordingly.
(3) If the petition complies with the requirements of rule 6, the Speaker shall cause copies of the petition and of the annexures thereto to be forwarded.
(a) to the member in relation to whom the petition has been made;
and
(b) where such member belongs to any legislature party and such petition has not been made by the Leader thereof, also to such leader, and such member or leader shall, within seven days of the receipt of such copies, or within such further period as the Speaker may for sufficient cause allow, forward his comments in writing thereon to the Speaker.
(4) After considering the comments, if any, in relation to the petition, received under sub rule (3) within the period allowed (whether originally or on extension under that sub rule), the Speaker may either proceed to determine the question or, if he is satisfied, having regard to the nature and circumstances of the case that it is necessary or expedient so to do, refer the petition to the Committee for making a preliminary inquiry and submitting a report to him.
(5) The Speaker shall, as soon as may be after referring a petition to the committee under sub rule (4), intimate the petitioner accordingly and make an announcement with respect to such reference in the House or if the House is not then in session cause the information as to the reference to be published in the Bulletin.
(6) Where the Speaker makes a reference under sub rule (4) to the Committee, he shall proceed to determine the question as soon as may be after receipt of the report from the committee.
(7) The procedure which shall be followed by the Speaker for determining any question and the procedure which shall be followed by the Committee for the purpose of making a preliminary inquiry under sub rule
(4) shall be, so far as may be, the same as the procedure for inquiry and determination by the Committee of any question as to breach of privilege of the House by a member, and neither the Speaker nor the Committee shall come to any finding that a member has become subject to disqualification under the Tenth Schedule without affording a reasonable opportunity to such member to represent his case and to be heard in person.
(8) The provisions of sub rules (1) to (7) shall apply with respect to a petition in relation to the Speaker, as they apply with respect to a petition in relation to any other member and for this purpose, reference to the Speaker in these sub rules shall be construed as including references to the members elected by the House under the proviso to sub paragraph (1) of paragraph 6 of the Tenth Schedule.
Decision on petitions