Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar has said the "principal obligation" of the presiding officer of a legislature is to remain impartial and above party politics while allowing elected representatives to express their views freely, reported news agency PTI.

Speaking at the 84th All India Presiding Officers' Conference in Mumbai on Saturday, Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who faced severe criticism from the Shiv Sena (UBT) over his recent ruling on disqualification petitions, also said that constitutional offices should not be dragged into political bickering, reported PTI.