The proceedings of both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day on Friday following opposition uproar over various issues, including the situation in violence-hit Manipur. The Rajya Sabha, which was adjourned in the morning session over the Manipur issue and the Chair expunging certain words from proceedings, witnessed uproarious scenes when it reassembled for the post-lunch session. In Lok Sabha, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the government was ready for a discussion on the Manipur violence amidst vociferous protests by opposition parties which disrupted the proceedings of the House for the second consecutive day. The members, including those from the Congress, DMK and Left, raised slogans and told Speaker Om Birla that “Manipur is bleeding”.

Earlier, Congress MPs Manickam Tagore and Hibi Eden moved adjournment motions in the Lok Sabha, citing the need for urgent discussions on the ethnic violence in Manipur. Writing to the Secretary-General of Lok Sabha, Tagore wrote: “The House should also direct the Prime Minister to reply for his deep silence on the matter and to explain what kind of actions have been taken by him.” Meanwhile, Eden wrote: “The government must uphold its constitutional commitment to protect religious minorities and Scheduled Tribes”.

On Thursday, the first day of the Monsoon Session, the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha were adjourned amid uproar by the Opposition parties seeking a discussion on the deteriorating state of affairs in Manipur.

Govt party in over 6.36 lakh cases pending in courts, says Law Minister Meghwal

The central government is a party in over 6.36 lakh cases pending across courts, with the Finance Ministry alone involved in over 1.79 lakh litigations, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.

Responding to a question on pending court cases that involve the government as a party, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said in a written response that the total number of such cases stood at 6,36,605.

The Finance Ministry is a party in over 1.79 lakh cases. The Defence Ministry is involved in over 87,000 cases, while the Education Ministry is a party in over 17,000 cases, which are pending, he said. Responding to a sub question on expenditure on litigation, the minister said while Rs 54.35 crore was spent in financial year 2022-23, Rs 48.37 crore was spent in 2021-22.

Inter-services organisations bill be passed, enacted without any amendments: Parliamentary panel on defence

A parliamentary panel on defence has recommended that the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023, be passed and enacted as a statute, without any amendments.

The 39th Report (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on the bill was presented to Lok Sabha on Friday and also laid in Rajya Sabha. The Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023, was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 15 and was referred to the Standing Committee on Defence by the Speaker on April 24 for examination and report.

“In summation, the committee, while agreeing with the provisions of the bill, in no uncertain words recommend that the bill without any amendments be passed, enacted as a statute and the committee’s observations/recommendation be considered,” the panel said in its report. 

Ruckus by Oppn adjourns LS till Monday even as Rajnath Singh says govt wants to discuss Manipur incident

Amid slogans and ruckus by the Opposition parties demanding a discussion on the Manipur incident, the day two of the Monsoon Session of Parliament proceedings saw the Lok Sabha being adjourned barely a few minutes after a brief statement on the issue by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Notably, a recent viral video showed two women, one in her 20s and the other in her 40s, from the Kuki-Zomi community being paraded naked and sexually assaulted in Manipur, sparking nationwide anger and condemnation. The clip came in the backdrop of the continued violence in the state which has seen the displacement of several people from their houses and several deaths.

In his statement on Friday Singh said, “The situation in Manipur is very sensitive. Keeping this in mind, PM has himself said whatever happened in Manipur has put the whole country to shame. The Prime Minister also said that the strictest action should be taken…And we (too) want a discussion on the matter in the house.” 

The government aims to open 10,000 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) by March to improve the common man’s access to generic medicines, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told the Lok Sabha on Friday, news agency PTI reported. Till June 30, 9,512 PMBJKs have been opened across the country.

The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 prescribes that every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters, he said in a written response to a question in the House.

The Directorate General of Health Services has directed all Centre-run hospitals to prescribe generic medicines only. Similar instructions also have been issued to all CGHS doctors and wellness centres.

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien has written to the Rajya Sabha Chairman demanding that his entire speech on July 20 in the House be put on record as he had “rightfully” questioned the government on the alarming situation in Manipur. Parts of the MP’s speech in the House were expunged.

“Phrases from my point of order on 20 July 2023 were expunged by the exercise of the Presiding Officer’s discretion. The Point of Order made by me on July 20, 2023, was an attempt as leader of one of the largest opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha, to duly and rightfully question the Prime Minister and the Government in power about the alarming and distressful law and order situation in the state of Manipur,” O’Brien wrote.

“The Point of Order made by me and the questions asked therein were within the true essence of democracy and anything but ‘Unparliamentary’. I had simply asked for the Prime Minister to speak up on Manipur in Parliament,” he said.