Lok Sabha adjourned twice on Tuesday as Opposition protests rock Monsoon Session
Synopsis
For the second straight day, the Lok Sabha could not function as Opposition members drowned out proceedings with sloganeering. With the INDIA bloc coordinating strategy before the session and the Supreme Court judges bill still pending passage, the Monsoon Session is off to a deeply fractious start.
Key Takeaways
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the second time on 21 July , this time till 2 pm , amid continued Opposition protests.
Speaker Om Birla had already adjourned the House till noon earlier in the day after the first round of disruptions.
The INDIA bloc — including Mallikarjun Kharge , Sonia Gandhi , Rahul Gandhi , and Supriya Sule — held a pre-session strategy meeting.
Opposition demands include discussions on examination paper leaks and the Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar .
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 was listed for consideration and passage but faces delay due to disruptions.
Disruptions mirror the opening day of the Monsoon Session on Monday, 20 July , when both Houses faced repeated adjournments.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the second time on Tuesday, 21 July, after persistent sloganeering and protests by Opposition members brought parliamentary proceedings to a halt during the Monsoon Session. The second adjournment, announced till 2 pm, came after repeated appeals from the Chair failed to restore order on the floor of the House.
How the Disruptions Unfolded
Presiding officer Sandhya Ray announced the second adjournment after multiple requests to Opposition members to maintain decorum went unheeded. Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had already adjourned the House till noon following a separate round of disruptions that prevented normal business from proceeding.
Appealing to members before the first adjournment, Birla said, 'Do you not want the House to run?... Everyone will get a chance to raise their issues.' The appeal did not succeed in calming the Opposition benches, which continued sloganeering and eventually forced the second suspension of the sitting.
INDIA Bloc Strategy Meeting Before Session
Before the day's proceedings began, leaders of the INDIA bloc convened a meeting to coordinate their strategy for the session. The meeting was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule, and several other senior Opposition leaders.
Key Issues Behind the Protests
Opposition parties have been demanding floor discussions on a range of contentious issues, including alleged examination paper leaks and a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. These demands mirror the scenes witnessed on the opening day of the Monsoon Session on Monday, 20 July, when both Houses of Parliament faced repeated adjournments due to similar disruptions.
Legislative Business at Risk
The repeated adjournments have put scheduled legislative business under pressure. The Lok Sabha was slated to take up the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 for consideration and passage later on Tuesday. Whether the House will be able to conduct that business depends on whether order can be restored after the second adjournment.
This is the second consecutive day of significant disruption in the Monsoon Session, raising questions about how much parliamentary time will be lost before both sides reach a workable arrangement. The standoff between the treasury and Opposition benches is likely to define the early tenor of the session.
Point of View
Not just spontaneous anger. The INDIA bloc strategy meeting before proceedings is a tell — this is structured disruption, not floor chaos. What gets buried in the noise is the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, a piece of legislation with direct implications for judicial capacity, now stalled behind political theatre. If the pattern from Monday repeats across the week, the session risks becoming a showcase of dysfunction rather than legislation — and that cost is borne not by either side of the aisle, but by the legislative calendar itself.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Lok Sabha adjourned twice on 21 July 2026?
The Lok Sabha was adjourned twice on 21 July due to persistent sloganeering and protests by Opposition members during the Monsoon Session. Repeated appeals by the presiding officers failed to restore order, forcing two separate suspensions of the sitting.
What issues is the Opposition demanding discussion on?
Opposition parties have been demanding parliamentary discussions on alleged examination paper leaks and a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. These have been the primary stated reasons for the disruptions in both Houses during the Monsoon Session.
Who attended the INDIA bloc strategy meeting before Tuesday's session?
The INDIA bloc meeting was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, and several other Opposition leaders. The meeting was held to coordinate the bloc's strategy for the day's proceedings.
What bill was scheduled for passage in the Lok Sabha on 21 July?
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 was listed for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The repeated adjournments put the bill's passage at risk for the day.
Is this the first time the Monsoon Session has seen such disruptions?
No. Similar scenes played out on the opening day of the Monsoon Session on Monday, 20 July, when repeated adjournments affected proceedings in both Houses of Parliament. Tuesday marked the second consecutive day of significant disruption.
