RS Dy Chairman disallows 34 notices under Rule 267 citing non-compliance

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh on Tuesday disallowed 34 notices under Rule 267, citing non-compliance with the rules and past directives. The notices were submitted by various members seeking suspension of listed business to discuss specific issues.

The Deputy Chairman noted that most notices did not mention the specific rule they sought to suspend, and some did not contain a properly formatted motion. He observed that some members were giving notices on different subjects daily, which seemed to be more suitable for Zero Hour or Special Mention.

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The Deputy Chairman expressed concern that Rule 267 was being used in a casual manner, despite clear regulations and past rulings. He cited past instances where the previous Chairman had emphasized that Rule 267 should be used only for rare and exceptional cases, not for routine matters.

“It, prima-facie, appears that Members are themselves not sure on which subject they want to seek suspension of listed business of the day,” he said, asserting that “Members may recall that previous Chairman held that Rule 267 was applicable for raising rarest of rare cases and never on matters of routine nature.”

Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha Rules allows members to move a motion to suspend the rules to discuss a specific issue. However, the rule has specific requirements and guidelines that must be followed. The Deputy Chairman’s decision to disallow the notices highlights the importance of adhering to these rules and guidelines to maintain the dignity and efficiency of the House.