Rajya Sabha Chairman Asks 3 AAP MPs To Withdraw From House Amid Discussion On Farmers Protests

Under Rule 255, the Chairman may direct any member, whose conduct in his opinion is "grossly disorderly", to immediately withdraw from the House. Such member is expected to forthwith absent himself during the remainder of the day's meeting.

The provision reads as under:

"The Chairman may direct any member whose conduct is in his opinion grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from the Council and any member so ordered to withdraw shall do so forthwith and shall absent himself during the remainder of the day's meeting."

This is different from a Suspension under Rule 256 where the concerned MP is suspended from remainder of the Session.

MPs Sanjay Singh, Sushil Kumar Gupta and ND Gupta were asked to 'withdraw' from the House after they incessantly raised slogans against the three Farm Laws.

The Chairperson urged them to not interrupt the House proceedings and assured that the farmers issue will be discussed during the 15 hours allotted for Motion of Thanks on President's Address. However, when the three MPs did not desist, the Chairperson proceeded to impose Rule 255 against them.

On Tuesday, proceedings in both the Upper House and Lower House of the Parliament were interrupted after Opposition parties' request to suspend business of the day to discuss farmers protest was denied.

Significantly, the Rajya Sabha has unanimously suspended Question Hour for today; Zero Hour & Question Hour for tomorrow and the Private Members' Business scheduled on Friday to allocate more time to discuss Motion of Thanks where members can raise the issue of farmers' protest.

During the discussion about the passing of farm laws in September 2020, the Rajya Sabha had suspended 8 opposition MPs citing ruckus in house.

Thousands of protesters, mostly from Punjab, have been camping in the border areas of Delhi-NCR since November 26 raising a demand that the Central Government repeal the recently passed farmers laws. Reportedly, over 70 farmers have died during these protests.

The Supreme Court is hearing a batch of PILs seeking immediate removal of protesting farmers from border areas of Delhi-NCR on the ground that they increase the risk of COVID-19 spread in Delhi. the Top Court is also seized with petitions challenging the three Farm Laws.

Vide order dated January 12, 2020, the Supreme Court stayed the operation of the three Acts until further Orders. It ordered that the MSP system as it existed before the enactment of the laws must be continued and no farmer shall be dispossessed or deprived of his title as a result of any action taken under the laws.