Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Saturday, defended her decision of not giving Leader of Opposition, LoP, post to Congress saying she took the decision after studying the rules and taking experts opinion on the issue. Ms. Mahajan told reporters in Indore that no opposition party has the requisite ten percent seats of total strength of the House to get the status as stipulated by the rule. Replying to a media query about Friday's Supreme Court observation on LoP post, she said it has made no observation against her and government has to answer the Apex Court and not to the Speaker. She said earlier the Court had also clarified that it cannot challenge the Speaker's decision on the issue.

The Speaker said the opposition exists in the Lok Sabha and is doing its work properly except for the fact that there is no LoP. The Speaker also said in 1980 and 1984 there was no LoP in the House because no party had the required strength.

On Friday, the Supreme Court had told the Centre that it is concerned about the post of LoP in the Lok Sabha remaining vacant. It also termed the post as very important component under Lokpal law and said it needs objective consideration.