As Rajya Sabha bade farewell to 53 retiring members, the House saw voices against the alleged "encroachment" by judiciary on the rights of legislature, with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley pressing the need for preserving the supremacy of Parliament in the making of law and budgets.
"This House (Rajya Sabha) and the Lok Sabha has the primacy in law-making and budget-making. Law-making and budget-making cannot be decided by any third party," Jaitley said, in an apparent reference to the judiciary.
"If the right to law-making and budget-making goes out of here, it will weaken the parliamentary democracy as well as democracy itself," the Leader of the Upper House warned.
He said the "seriousness" of this issue has to be considered by all segments of the society.
"I believe that the maturity of insititutions in the country will one day decide the way forward keeping the logic of Constitution-makers in mind," the Minister said.
The comments came just two days after he made some scathing remarks in the House against the judiciary, saying it was "step by step, brick by brick" encroaching upon the legislature.
His remarks had come after the Supreme Court had directed the government to set up an additional fund, besides the NDRF and SDRF, for drought mitigation.
Jaitley's views were echoed by some other members in the Rajya Sabha.
Samajwadi party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said Parliament members are concerned over "encroachment" on legislature's rights by judiciary.
Constitution, he said, has given Parliament the right to legislate laws and make budget.
"If that is done by the judiciary, what is the relevance of Parliament," the retiring member wondered and said the issue should be discussed during the next Monsoon session.
Parliamentary honour, strength and supremacy has to be maintained, he said. "Constitution has drawn clear lines."
BSP chief Mayawati, an arch rival of Samajwadi Party, also raked up the issue and said "we should act unitedly, especially on important issues" and rise above political affiliations.
"We would have to look within" why judiciary is taking advantage, she said.
Senior SAD leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa made a case for special session of Parliament to discuss judical reforms.
Among other issues, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav raised the
issue of accountability of the media and pitched for striking a balance on the issue of freedom of speech.
"Only politicians are accountable...But others must also have some accountability," he said.
He said the maximum hiring and firing is in the media sector where "Owners have become editors".
J D Seelam (Congress) expressed concern over "commercialisation" of politics and incidents where public representatives are lured by money.
Tapen Sen (CPI-M) said in a democracy, it is the numbers which decide, but efforts should be made to reach consensus on different issues.
He said members may argue or even quarrel in the House, but things never go to "personal level".
Kanaklata Singh (SP) gave an emotional farewell speech in which she said people in politics should realise that it is means to serve people.
BJP member V P Singh Badnore raised the issue of disruptions of the House and demanded that members creating ruckus and stalling the proceedings be penalised.
Chairman Hamid Ansari said parting is painful and more so when it involves a colleague and friend. He said every member retiring has "contributed significantly".
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said politicians don't retire and end of term in Rajya Sabha does not mean retirement from public life. While some may come back, others may change positions.
K C Tyagi (JD-U) in a lighter vein remarked that he would now be able to make long duration speeches, which were not allowed in the House by the chair and may even use unparliamentary words.
