Rajya Sabha adjourned for an hour over Jantar Mantar police action on students
Synopsis
The Rajya Sabha could not function for nearly an hour on 22 July after the opposition — led by Mallikarjun Kharge — forced an adjournment over police action against students protesting the paper leak issue at Jantar Mantar. The incident signals that the paper leak controversy is far from resolved in Parliament, and the government faces a two-front challenge: defending exam integrity and justifying the police response to student demonstrators.
Key Takeaways
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for nearly an hour on 22 July after an opposition uproar disrupted proceedings shortly after the 11 am start.
Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of police action against students protesting the paper leak controversy at Jantar Mantar .
Chairman Radhakrishnan adjourned the House till noon after failing to restore order.
Before the disruption, members tabled reports including a Public Accounts Committee finding on a ₹62.10 crore loss linked to defective Army ammunition from Ordnance Factory, Badmal .
The opposition is expected to continue pressing for a debate on the paper leak issue and the handling of student protests.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for nearly an hour on Wednesday, 22 July after the opposition triggered a major uproar over police action against students protesting the paper leak issue at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The disruption halted Upper House proceedings almost immediately after the session began at 11 am.
How the Disruption Unfolded
Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge sought to raise the matter of the Monday incident involving police action on protesting students, triggering a ruckus on the floor. Chairman Radhakrishnan swiftly adjourned the sitting till noon, unable to restore order amid the commotion.
Parliamentary Business Before the Adjournment
Before the disruption took hold, several members tabled documents for various ministries. Nityanand Rai and Bandi Sanjay Kumar laid papers for the Ministry of Home Affairs, while B.L. Verma submitted documents for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Sukanta Majumdar tabled papers for the Ministry of Education, and Harsh Malhotra presented those for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Akhilesh Prasad Singh laid four reports of the Public Accounts Committee on the table. These covered the delay in production of the electronically upgraded 155mm/45 Calibre Gun System 'Dhanush'; a loss of ₹62.10 crore on replacement of defective ammunition to the Army by the Ordnance Factory, Badmal; management of defence offsets; and non-compliance in timely submission of action taken notes on non-selected audit paragraphs and excess expenditure.
MP Anil Kumar Yadav Mandadi tabled reports of the department-related parliamentary standing committee on coal, mines, and steel. A motion for election of members to the committee on official language was also moved.
The Student Protest Backdrop
The opposition's anger centres on police action taken against students who had gathered at Jantar Mantar to protest alleged irregularities in competitive examinations — commonly referred to as the paper leak issue. The incident, which took place on Monday, has become a flashpoint in Parliament, with the opposition demanding accountability from the government.
This is not the first time the paper leak controversy has rattled the current parliamentary session. The issue has drawn sustained criticism from multiple opposition parties, who argue that the government has failed to protect the integrity of public examinations and has now compounded matters by using police force against peaceful student demonstrators.
What Comes Next
With tensions running high in the Upper House, further disruptions cannot be ruled out as the session continues. The opposition is expected to press for a structured debate on the paper leak issue and the treatment of student protesters, while the government faces mounting pressure to respond substantively on both counts.
Point of View
Arguably more potent, grievance. Parliament's inability to even begin proceedings without disruption signals that the government has yet to offer a response credible enough to de-escalate either issue. The real test is not whether the House resumes, but whether the government tables a substantive position on both exam integrity and the proportionality of the police action — before the session dissolves into procedural theatre.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Rajya Sabha adjourned on 22 July?
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for nearly an hour on 22 July after the opposition, led by Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, raised the issue of police action against students protesting the paper leak controversy at Jantar Mantar. The resulting uproar made it impossible to continue proceedings, prompting Chairman Radhakrishnan to adjourn the House till noon.
What is the paper leak issue being protested at Jantar Mantar?
The paper leak issue refers to alleged irregularities in competitive public examinations in India, which triggered student protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The controversy has become a major flashpoint in the current parliamentary session, with opposition parties demanding accountability from the government over exam integrity.
What happened to students at Jantar Mantar that sparked the uproar?
Police took action against students who had gathered at Jantar Mantar to protest the paper leak issue on Monday, 21 July. The opposition cited this incident in the Rajya Sabha, arguing the government used force against peaceful demonstrators, which led to the adjournment.
What parliamentary business was conducted before the adjournment?
Before the disruption, members tabled documents for several ministries and laid Public Accounts Committee reports, including one flagging a ₹62.10 crore loss on defective Army ammunition from Ordnance Factory, Badmal. A motion for election of members to the committee on official language was also moved.
What is expected to happen next in Parliament on this issue?
The opposition is expected to continue demanding a structured debate on the paper leak controversy and the police action against student protesters. Further disruptions in the Rajya Sabha are likely unless the government offers a substantive response on both fronts.
