New Delhi: BJP will move a notice for suspension of the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha tomorrow to discuss its demand for resumption of the debate on the Lokpal
Bill, insisting that the House was adjourned abruptly in the winter session without completing the business of the day.
BJP sources said the party will seek a clarification from the government why the debate should be treated as over when the Rajya Sabha was adjourned on December 29 at 12 pm without putting the Lokpal Bill to vote.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari had cited disorder in the House as the reason for the adjournment.
"Under Rule 257 of the Rules of Procedure in Rajya Sabha, if the chairperson adjourns or suspends the proceedings of the House due to grave disorder, he has to specify the time when the House will meet again," a BJP leader said.
The main opposition is likely to insist on resumption of the debate on the ground that adjournment has to be time bound and since no time had been allotted, the House should take up the matter now. The House only met again on March 12 and hence it should take up the issue from where it was left.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had reasoned that under Rule 225, the debate cannot be taken up now as the House was prorogued and all the amendments have lapsed.
BJP sources said the House has a final say on the matter and with the Opposition benches being in a majority in the Upper House, it can demand that this be put to vote.
In case this tactic does not work, BJP is likely to move a plea for taking up the Lokpal Bill afresh and start the whole debate from scratch.
PTI
