Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu said suspending the members was not a pleasant thing to do, but he was duty bound to uphold the dignity of the rules, standards and values of the upper house, and rules do provide for such suspension when it becomes inevitable.
Naidu, during his concluding remarks before adjourning Rajya Sabha sine die, eight days ahead of the schedule, said it was the right of the opposition to protest, but the question is how should it be done.
The chairman said for the first time in this history of the house, a notice of motion was given for the removal of the deputy chairman and it was rejected, and pointed out that the mandatory 14 days advance notice was not given.
Referring to the developments surrounding this unprecedented move, he said it was deeply painful for all those who hold the stature and the dignity of the house dear to their hearts. He appealed to the members to ensure that such unseemly behaviour was not repeated.
Naidu said the Rajya Sabha was concluding eight sittings ahead of the scheduled 18 sittings as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a challenge. He said during the 10 sittings, a total of 25 Bills were passed and six Bills introduced. “The productivity of the House during this session has been 100.47 per cent. The new normal of high productivity witnessed during the last three sessions has continued during this session as well. As a result, the overall productivity of the last four sessions comes to a praiseworthy 96.13 per cent. This high productivity for four consecutive sessions is the best during the last five years,” the chairman added.
He said written replies were given to a total of 1,567 unstarred questions during the 10 sittings, while the members raised issues of urgent public importance through 92 Zero Hours and 66 Special Mentions. Besides, the members discussed important issues of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, its consequences and management and the developments along the border in Ladakh.
Though it was not the first time that some members were suspended and Bills passed when some sections of the house boycotted the proceedings, he said, “I find it extremely unpalatable. This kind of a situation needs to be avoided by all means”.
Referring to the letter received from the Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and others urging the house not to pass the three labour codes, when the opposition had boycotted the house, the chairman said there have been a number of precedents when the business was taken up as per schedule and bills were approved in the wake of boycott. He cited the example of passage of Finance Bill and Appropriation Bill in 2013.
Naidu was of the view that the if the agitating members, through their letter, had suggested that they would attend the house, he would have discussed the issue with the government. “But there was no such assurance. On the other hand, some of the members justified what they had done. Therefore he decided to go ahead with the bills.”
Observing that though the session was satisfying in terms of productivity, he said there have been some areas of concern as well. “We need to collectively ponder over these issues for making a difference in future,” he added.
