Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan has clarified that the discussion under rule 267 can only take place in the House on the items listed in the day’s agenda. He said, any notice concerning an issue outside the listed business is invalid. The Chairman made this ruling during the Zero Hour in view of the opposition MPs’ notices given under the Rule 267.
Mr Radhakrishnan observed that notices given under Rule 267 are being submitted almost on a daily basis to seek suspension of listed business and to seek discussion on issues chosen by members. He stressed that this is not the purpose of Rule 267. He underlined that Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha cannot be equated with an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, which is permitted under Article 75(3) of the Constitution. He highlighted that the current form of Rule 267 emerged from amendments by a Committee which was adopted in the year 2000 in the House. The Committee had observed that the rule was being used to seek discussions on matters not listed or not yet admitted, and therefore it recommended restricting its application strictly to subjects related to the listed business.
Citing the rules, the Rajya Sabha Chairman rejected the notices submitted by the two members on different issues saying they are not in conformity to prescribed norms. Reacting to this ruling, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said, the members resort to 267 Rule, because Rajya Sabha lacks an adjournment motion provision and Rule 267 remains the only mechanism for raising urgent matters. He alleged that the government is also avoiding important issues to be discussed in the House. Countering the allegation made by Mr. Kharge, Leader of the House Jagat Prakash Nadda said that the government has not avoided any discussion raised by the opposition and appropriate time was allotted for the discussion. He said the government is ready to discuss every issue in the House.
