Rajya Sabha Chair Urges Ban on Sharing Expunged Proceedings Online

Speedy Summary

• The Rajya Sabha witnessed a stalemate between the government and opposition over demands to discuss special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar during the Monsoon Session on August 19, 2025.
• Opposition alleges that SIR poses a threat to democracy but the government maintains it cannot be debated as it is “sub-judice.”
• Videos of expunged statements from Opposition Leader Mallikarjun Kharge’s speech were reportedly shared on social media, sparking concerns over parliamentary guidelines.
• BJP MP Radha Mohan das Agrawal objected to such videos being circulated and questioned if this constituted a breach of privilege.
• Chair Ghanshyam Tiwari stated that expunged proceedings should not be shared via Sansad TV or other mediums,urging stricter arrangements to prevent this.
• The Mines and Minerals (Growth and Regulation) Amendment bill, 2025 was tabled amid disruptions by opposition MPs demanding a debate on SIR; these MPs later staged a walkout during the bill’s introduction.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The ongoing standoff over discussing SIR highlights crucial procedural tensions within Indian parliamentary conduct. While the opposition views SIR as fundamentally impacting democratic norms, its categorization as “sub-judice” has hindered formal discussions within legislative avenues.The circulation of expunged speeches raises larger questions about parliamentary transparency versus respect for institutional rules-a balance critical in preventing misuse while ensuring accountability.

The focus also shifts toward missed legislative opportunities; despite opposition disruptions, key governance issues like amendments concerning mines and minerals were carried forward without broader debate participation from all sides-perhaps narrowing stakeholder input into policy-making processes. A systematic review or clarification surrounding both sub-judice limitations and parliamentary privileges could bolster future discourse maturity while strengthening trust in institutional frameworks.

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