New Delhi: CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Brittas on Monday expressed concern over the hurried passage of bills in the Upper House, emphasising the need for detailed discussions. Speaking on the occasion of felicitating new Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan on his first day in the House, Brittas urged him to ensure Opposition parties are given adequate opportunity to participate in debates.
“You should also look at the left ideology and left parties, not only the middle parties,” he said.
Brittas highlighted that between 2019 and 2024, 34 per cent of bills were passed after less than an hour of discussion, while around 60 per cent were passed after less than two hours of debate. “Is this what B R Ambedkar envisioned regarding checks on hasty and ill-considered legislation? This question should ring in your ears, sir,” he added.
The CPI(M) MP warned that the standard of Parliamentary discourse has been declining and said the chair has a “bounded duty” to restore proper debate. “From 135 sittings a year, we have reached a level of 55 days,” he noted.
Brittas stressed that Parliamentary democracy rests on two pillars — accountability of the executive to the legislature and the institution of the Opposition. “Sir, let us have at least our say. In any case, the treasury benches will have their way. But the Opposition has been deprived even of this say, and that is the malady of our time,” he said.
He also pointed out that during the last five years, MPs were suspended 206 times across both Houses. “Two years back, during the Winter Session, 146 MPs were suspended, and crucial bills were passed without Opposition participation,” he added.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and JD(U) MP Ram Nath Thakur, along with Samajwadi Party’s Javed Ali Khan, also spoke. Khan noted that the time allocated for proceedings, especially private member business, is decreasing considerably. “What happens to our notices? Where do they go? Why are they not accepted? This too needs to be addressed within a democracy,” he said, adding that members’ questions are often dismissed by ministries, sometimes beyond the criteria for dismissal.
Khan further requested the chair to allow members an opportunity to bid farewell to former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar during his tenure.
NCP’s Praful Patel observed that the level of discourse, debate, and engagement in the Rajya Sabha has been on the decline. “I don’t want to cast aspersions on any side. But a fine balance needs to be drawn. If some members claim bills are being passed in less than two hours or amidst noise rather than discussion, those responsible should reflect on it,” he said.
Fauzia Khan, NCP-SCP Rajya Sabha member, urged the chair to assess the speaking time of women MPs in the House. “I request you to ensure that women members get at least 33 per cent of the time to speak in this House,” she said.
With PTI inputs