Giving notices under Rule 267 has been reduced to ‘farcical exercise’, says Jagdeep Dhankhar in Rajya Sabha

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 24

Stating that giving notices under Rule 267 has been reduced to a “farcical exercise”, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday urged leaders of political parties to take a call on this issue.

“Honourable Members, this is regarding Rule 267. For your benefit, my observations on Rule 267 have been uploaded today for your consideration. I call upon you and strongly urge you to seriously bestow your attention on the same,” Dhankhar told the House. 

Emphasising that leaders of political parties need to take a call on the issue, Dhankhar said it is becoming “a routine daily affair in every sitting of the House”. 

He said that in the last 36 years, this mechanism has been allowed only on six occasions. 

Notices under Rule 267 asking for suspension of all listed businesses to discuss a particular issue is admitted only in exceptional circumstances, Dhankhar added.

He said the notices filed today do not conform to the directives imparted by the Chair earlier in this connection and thus not admitted.

In more than three decades, Rule 267 has been availed only for half a dozen occasions, Dhankhar said.

“It is being taken as a routine exercise, as a habit. It has reduced itself to a farcical exercise”, the Chairman said. 

Dhankhar added since attention has not been paid to observations made by him in this regard on Tuesday, he has again uploaded his directives on the members’ portal.

The Opposition parties have been for long sending notices to the Chairman under Rule 267 to discuss important issues.

Dhankhar has not admitted any of these notices thus far during his tenure.