Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned till Monday amid persistent protests by Opposition members on Friday. Amid the disruptions, the Lok Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, by voice vote.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai moved the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, which was cleared amid continuous sloganeering in the House.
The legislation makes delayed registration of births and deaths more stringent. Under the amended provisions, if a birth or death is reported more than one year but within two years after its occurrence, registration will require the approval of the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or an Executive Magistrate authorised by the District Magistrate. The changes are aimed at encouraging the timely registration of births and deaths.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Parliament was meant for debate and lawmaking, and noted that the legislative agenda had already been discussed and agreed upon in the Business Advisory Committee. He urged the Opposition to participate in discussions on Bills instead of disrupting proceedings.
Presiding Officer Dilip Saikia also appealed to members to maintain decorum, saying such disruptions set an undesirable precedent.
The Rajya Sabha, too, witnessed repeated interruptions, prompting Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan to adjourn the House till August 3.
Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge sought to move a notice under Rule 267 to suspend the day’s listed business for a discussion on issues raised by the Opposition. However, the Chairman declined to admit the notice, saying previous rulings on Rule 267 had made the position clear.
As sloganeering continued in the Upper House, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said Parliament should function through discussion and debate. He added that the country was watching the proceedings and expressed hope that the House would be allowed to function smoothly.
Despite the disruptions, a few members were allowed to raise constituency-related issues before the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till Monday.
-IANS
