Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook, which allows for suspension of day’s business to debate the issue suggested by a Member, has become a bone of contention in the Upper House.

What is Rule 267 of Rajya Sabha?

• The Rule gives special power to a Rajya Sabha member to suspend the pre-decided agenda of the House, with the approval of the Chairman.
• The Rajya Sabha Rule Book says, “Any member, may, with the consent of the Chairman, move that any rule may be suspended in its application to a motion related to the business listed before the Council of that day.
• If the motion is carried, the rule in question shall be suspended for the time being: provided further that this rule shall not apply where specific provision already exists for suspension of a rule under a particular chapter of the Rules”.

Why this rule has become important?

• In the Upper House, the Opposition members have been consistent in demanding a debate on the India-China border situation.
• There have been hundreds of notices by Members to invoke Rule 267 in the past eight years.
• After the latest clash between the two sides in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang, the Opposition members have become more vocal with their demand.
• Every day, Opposition leaders are demanding that the Chair suspends all other business and allow a discussion on the latest situation in India-China border by applying Rule 267.

Is Rule 267 the only way to raise important issues in the House?

In Parliament, a member has a number of ways to flag issues and seek the government’s reply.

• Question Hour: An MP can ask questions related to any issue during the Question Hour in which the concerned minister has to provide oral or written answers.
• Zero Hour: An MP can raise the issue during Zero Hour. Every day, 15 MPs are allowed to raise issues of their choice in the Zero Hour.
• Special Mention: An MP can even raise it during Special Mention. A Chairman can allow up to 7 Special Mentions daily.
• Debate over president’s address: An MP can try to bring the issue to the government’s notice during other discussions such as the debate on the President’s speech.
• Budget speech: Opposition leaders have also used the Budget debate to attack the government politically.

Why the Opposition is insisting on Rule 267?

• Any discussion under Rule 267 assumes great significance in Parliament simply because all other business would be put on hold to discuss the issue of national importance.
• No other form of discussion entails suspension of other business.
• If an issue is admitted under Rule 267, it signifies it’s the most important national issue of the day.
• Also, the government will have to respond to the matter by replying during the discussions under Rule 267.

What is the current controversy over Rule 267?

• Opposition members have alleged that the Rajya Sabha chairman has consistently refused to allow any discussion under Rule 267 for a long time.
• While Dhankhar has not allowed any matter under Rule 267, his predecessor M Venkaiah Naidu too didn’t allow any admission under Rule 267 during his entire five years.

Has the Rule been ever used?

• The rule has been used several times.
• The Chair had agreed to suspend the business to discuss urgent national issues in the past.
• The last time it was used was in November 2016, when the Upper House invoked Rule 267 to discuss demonetization.

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