Privileges Panel of Rajya Sabha to Convene on January 9 to Hear Suspended MPs

The Privileges Committee of Rajya Sabha, chaired by Deputy Chairman Harivansh, is set to meet on January 9 to provide 11 suspended opposition MPs an opportunity to present their perspectives on the issue of their suspension for unruly conduct during the recently concluded Winter Session of Parliament.

The committee will address various matters, including the suspension of the 11 MPs during the Winter Session. The suspended MPs will remain so until the Privileges Committee completes its evaluation, and the House reviews the committee’s report.

During the Winter Session, a total of 146 MPs, comprising 100 from Lok Sabha and 46 from Rajya Sabha, were suspended for displaying placards and raising slogans. They were demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the breach of Parliament security.

Eleven MPs from Rajya Sabha faced suspension for causing “grave disorder” in their respective Houses on December 18, leading to their cases being referred to the Privileges Committee.

In the Rajya Sabha, a total of 46 members were suspended during the Winter Session, with 11 of them having their cases referred to the Privileges Committee.

Additionally, the Privileges Committee of Lok Sabha is scheduled to meet on January 12 to discuss the suspension of three MPs—K Jayakumar, Abdul Khaleque, and Vijayakumar Vijay Vasanth—during the Winter Session for ‘unruly behavior.’ The three MPs will have the opportunity to present oral evidence before the Committee.

Responding to the upcoming meeting, Abdul Khaleque criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah over a security breach in Parliament on December 13, questioning why Shah did not address the matter. He emphasized that the demand was for the Home Minister to explain the security breach and its responsible party. The suspended MPs’ matter has been referred to the Privileges Committee, which has summoned them for the upcoming meeting.