Ansari laments disruptions in RS

The Winter Session of Rajya Sabha, which lost over 47 hours due to disruptions, was today adjourned sine die as an upset Chairman Hamid Ansari lamented that the record of this session belied the commitment to the principles of the Constitution "in good measure".
He appealed to the members "to introspect on this state of affairs (and) desist from approaches and practices that demean the stature of the Rajya Sabha".
"The 237th Session of the Rajya Sabha, that last week seemed singularly unproductive in terms of legislative work, comes to an end this afternoon after having redeemed itself somewhat in the past three days," said Ansari in his valedictory remarks before the House was adjourned sine die.

He recalled that three weeks back on December 1, the Rajya Sabha had solemnly committed itself to the principles and ideals of the Constitution.
"A functioning legislature is an essential concomitant of these principles; disruptions amount to their negation. The record of this session belies this commitment in good measure," he said.
The interruptions in the functioning of the House, he said sought to be "justified by specious logic by different sections of the House at different times to suit their tactics of the moment", continue to result in loss of working time and neglect of listed business.

In 20 sittings from November 26 till today, nine Bills, including the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, were passed.

Ansari said interruptions denied members the opportunity to seek accountability of the executive through questions, 'Zero Hour' issues, discussions and debates on issues of public interest and concern. The disruptions also reduced or eliminated opportunity to scrutinise legislative proposals.
In a strong message, Ansari said "vehemence in language
or behaviour resulting in obstruction of proceedings, apart from interruption and neglect of listed agenda," also resulted in violation of privileges of individual Members themselves.
"It reflects adversely on the parliamentary process and our commitment to it. There is an imperative need to dispel this impression," the Chairman said.
"Forgotten" in the process are the limitations of the rules of procedure, the operative assumptions on which they were framed and the various Rulings and Observations from the Chair pertaining to the requirement of decorum and dignity.

Ansari said the Chair appreciated the view that a political assembly works on its perception of public impulses.
"Normal disciplinary procedures, therefore, have their limitations. The counterpart of this approach is self- discipline and a commitment to fulfil the objectives and purposes of a legislative body," he said.
The Session had 20 sittings and the House sat for over 60 hours. During the Session, over 47 hours were lost on various issues like Kumari Selja's remark about being asked about her caste at a temple in Gujarat, alleged anti-Dalit remarks of Union Minister V K Singh and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's reported comments on Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The other issues included court summons to top Congress functionaries in the National Herald case, opposition to the multi-purpose Polavaram irrigation project, atrocities on dalits in Punjab, role of Governor of Arunachal Pradesh and alleged irregularities in the functioning of DDCA and demand for resignation of Minister of Finance.
During the session, two Government Bills were withdrawn and one Bill introduced.
The House passed or returned nine Bills, including the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, the Appropriation Bills, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill.
The other Bills passed were the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Bill, the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, the Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill, the Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill.

The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 was referred to the Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2015, referred to a Joint Committee of both the Houses.
There were short-duration discussions on damage caused due to North-East monsoon rain and floods in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh situation in Nepal and the state of Indo-Nepal relations and the flood and drought situation.