CHENNAI: TVK member S Madhar Badhurudeen, alias Mustafa, was warned by Speaker JCD Prabhakar on Thursday for reading from his mobile phone during a debate in the Assembly, before he went on to occupy the Speaker's chair and preside over the House.

Participating in the debate on the demands for grants for the Home Department, Mustafa took out his mobile phone, held it near the microphone and began reading from a script on the device. Speaker Prabhakar intervened and warned him against using a mobile phone while addressing the House.

Soon afterwards, Mustafa was asked to occupy the Speaker's chair as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker left the House for a tea break. He then presided over the proceedings for a while, in keeping with the Assembly's practice of allowing legislators, usually based on their seniority or experience, to take the chair in the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

Though members carry mobile phones inside the House, their use is not permitted during proceedings. Badhurudeen's conspicuous use of the phone to read his speech, followed shortly by his stint in the Speaker's chair, made for an unusual sequence in the day's proceedings.