NEW DELHI, Aug 6: Turning down the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on electoral roll revision in Bihar, the government asserted in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that matters pending before the judiciary cannot be discussed on the floor of the House.
As soon as the Lower House met again at 2 PM after two earlier adjournments, the opposition parties continued with the protests demanding a discussion on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar by the Election Commission.
Speaking in the House, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stressed that rules of the Lok Sabha do not allow sub-judice matters to be discussed in the House. He also pointed out that the functioning of autonomous institutions such as the Election Commission cannot be discussed in Parliament.
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Rijiju cited a 1998 ruling by then Lok Sabha speaker Bal Ram Jhakar that under the existing constitutional provisions, the House cannot comment upon the actions of the Election Commission. Jhakar, according to Rijiju, had said that he cannot break the rules by allowing a discussion on the functioning of the EC.
“The government has been very open to taking up discussion on any matter. However, any discussion in the Parliament has to be in accordance with constitutional provisions and also in accordance with the rules as prescribed in the procedure and conduct of business in the Lok Sabha.
“On the issue of intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar for which they (opposition members) are disturbing the House from first day of the session, we all know that the matter is under consideration of the Supreme Court and as such it is sub judice and a hence a discussion cannot be held on the subject,” Rijiju said.
Over 10 petitions have been filed in the apex court against SIR including by opposition parties and NGO ‘Association for Democratic Reforms’, the lead petitioner.
Rijiju underlined that the issue relates to the functioning of the Election Commission of India, which is an autonomous body.
“In the past, it has been clearly established in this House itself that matters falling under the domain of the Election Commission of India cannot be discussed in this House,” he said in the Lok Sabha.
“On 14 December 1988, when a member tried to raise the issue pertaining to the functioning of Election Commission, the then Lok Sabha speaker Bal Ram Jhakhar had ruled in the following words — ‘you know that I can comment upon the actions and decisions of the Election Commission, which is an autonomous body nor can they do it, you have to change the Constitution. I cannot allow, I cannot break the rules’,” Rijiju said.
The minister asserted that this is a decision taken by a previous Lok Sabha and “we have to honour them”.
Rijiju urged the members to participate in the debates for the passage of key legislations.
“I urge the members not to disrupt the House. There are important bills to be taken up. The Sports Bill is listed for today, but we will take it up later because we want discussions,” he said.
Meanwhile, leaders of several opposition parties on Wednesday urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to refer the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to a joint committee of Parliament for further scrutiny.
In a joint letter to the Speaker, the opposition leaders said there is a need for a broader consensus on the two significant bills, listed for consideration and passage in the House, considering their national importance.
The opposition has been creating uproar in both houses of Parliament on their demand for a discussion on SIR, which they allege is aimed at disenfranchising a large number of voters.
Sources in Opposition on Wednesday said that it has proposed allowing a discussion on “electoral reforms” as a “middle path” to end the deadlock in Parliament.
However, government sources indicated that the ruling side is unlikely to accede to any such debate.
On Wednesday, several MPs of the INDIA bloc parties held a protest in the Parliament House complex against SIR and demanded its rollback as well as a debate on it in both Houses of Parliament.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the government, saying “they have become so weak that neither are they able to face” US President Donald Trump, “nor are they able to run Parliament”.
“It is a very simple thing, we are only asking for a discussion (on SIR). It is very easy for them to resolve this within five minutes. They should discuss it; what is the harm? Our viewpoint will come forth, their viewpoint will come forth, it will be over,” the MP from Wayanad said as she participated in the protest and raised slogans against the government and SIR.
Also on Wednesday, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Deputy Chairman Harivansh, citing past rulings by the Chair to urge him to allow a discussion on SIR and asserted that it is of “fundamental importance to our democracy”. (PTI)
