Winter session: Rajya Sabha lost 33 hours to disruptions, Lok Sabha 15

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu regretted substantial loss of functional time on account of frequent disruptions in the House, and urged members to introspect as the winter session of Parliament ended on Friday.

RS was adjourned sine die without taking up the triple talaq bill for lack of consensus over the opposition’s demand to refer it to a select committee.

“..Though Parliament is a political institution, it cannot be an extension of politics in its typical sense ... It is unfortunate that despite discharging its responsibilities to a great extent, the august House ends up losing some degree of esteem of the people on account of disruptions and substantial loss of time...,” Naidu said while thanking MPs for passage of nine bills.


In the beginning of the session, insistence by Congress for an apology from PM Modi for his remark against Manmohan Singh led to disruptions.

A review of proceedings reveals that a total 41 hours of business was transacted while over 33 hours were lost to disruptions over 13 sittings. Apart from nine government bills, 19 private members’ bills were introduced. The Upper House even created a record on January 2 by taking up all starred questions after a gap of 15 years.

Passage of the triple talaq bill was the highlight in Lok Sabha, which passed 12 bills and held 13 sittings spread over 61 hours and 48 minutes and lost about 15 hours due to disruptions.

The LS passed several key bills during the session including those for raising the salaries of judges, central road fund (amendment) bill, the requisitioning and acquisition of immovable property bill, the national capital territory of Delhi laws (special provisions) second (amendment) bill and the goods and services tax (compensation to states) amendment bill.