Committee set up to suggest amendments to RS rules

NEWDELHI: Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has constituted a two-member committee to take up a comprehensive review of the rules of procedure of the Upper House and suggest amendments to ensure its smooth running, RS secretary general Desh Deepak Verma said at a media briefing on Monday.

The move comes in the backdrop of a complete washout of the budget session which concluded on April 6 on account of frequent disruptions by opposition members over several issues. This year’s budget session was the least productive in 18 years, leaving several key bills pending. Out of the total of the 165 available working hours, more than 120 hours were lost due to disruptions. Naidu had brought up on March 28 on the floor of the House the need to review the rules to address adjournments and disruptions. The committee, which will be headed by former Rajya Sabha (RS) secretary general VK Agnihotri will look at those provisions which are inadequate or unspecific as compared to the rules of the Lok Sabha and suggest suitable amendments.

SR Dhaleta, retired joint secretary and legislative counsel, ministry of law and justice, is the other member of the committee, which has been given three months to submit its report.

Some of the specific rules that the committee will revisit include notice of privilege given by members, discussions on matter of public interest and points of order raised by members.

“A need has been felt for some time for further amendments in Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in RS to enlarge the scope of some rules and make them more comprehensive ...” Verma added. Verma said the rules do not provide for automatic suspension of members who persistently and willfully obstruct proceedings of the house unlike Lok Sabha rule 374 (A).

He said the committee will consult all the members of the Upper House, examine the existing rules of procedure and conduct of business in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, practices and procedures in both houses. The committee’s report will be placed before the parliamentary committee on rules. “After the committee of rules approves it, the report will be place before Rajya Sabha. Once the house approves it, the rules will be amended,” he said.

MOVE COMES IN THE BACKDROP OF A WASHOUT OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE BUDGET SESSION