Rajya Sabha adjourned till August 3 as Kharge's Rule 267 notice rejected
Synopsis
Rajya Sabha was cut short on 31 July after Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan refused to admit Kharge's Rule 267 notice — a move that has become a recurring flashpoint this session. With the Opposition demanding Amit Shah's resignation over the alleged Ayodhya donation scam, and the Chair holding firm, the deadlock shows no sign of breaking before Monday's resumption.
Key Takeaways
Rajya Sabha was adjourned on 31 July and will reconvene on Monday, 3 August at 11 am IST .
Radhakrishnan rejected Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's notice under Rule 267 , citing prior rulings.
Opposition members demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah and raised the alleged Ayodhya donation scam .
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused the Opposition of 'street politics' inside Parliament.
BJP members from Uttarakhand , Andhra Pradesh , and Bihar were permitted to raise constituency issues despite the disruptions.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned on Friday, 31 July until Monday, 3 August, after Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan rejected a Rule 267 notice moved by Congress President and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, triggering sustained sloganeering by Opposition members that made orderly proceedings impossible.
The Rule 267 Flashpoint
Kharge rose to present his Rule 267 notice — a provision that, if admitted, suspends listed business to take up an urgent matter — but Chairman Radhakrishnan cut him off before he could complete his submission. The Chairman stated that rulings on Rule 267 notices had been issued on multiple prior occasions and that no such notices would be entertained. This is part of a recurring pattern: the Chair has consistently declined Rule 267 notices this session, deepening the standoff between the Treasury benches and the Opposition.
Opposition Demands and Sloganeering
Opposition members continued to raise slogans throughout the session, pressing two demands: the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and a discussion on the alleged Ayodhya donation scam. The relentless disruptions made it impossible to conduct substantive legislative business, and the House remained in near-constant uproar.
Treasury Bench Hits Back
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan sharply condemned the Opposition's conduct, accusing members of bringing 'street politics' into Parliament and of showing disrespect to democratic institutions. He warned that the Opposition appeared determined to create anarchy and that the country would hold them accountable. 'India is watching them and the country will not forget this act,' Chouhan said, condemning the continued disruptions.
Business That Did Get Through
Despite the pandemonium, Chairman Radhakrishnan permitted a handful of members to raise constituency-level concerns. Mahendra Bhatt of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Uttarakhand and Ryaga Krishnaiah of the BJP from Andhra Pradesh addressed matters relating to their respective constituencies. Manan Kumar Mishra of the BJP from Bihar sought a legal provision to protect advocates and their families from malicious FIRs, though his remarks were largely drowned out by Opposition slogans.
What Happens Next
The Rajya Sabha will reconvene on Monday, 3 August at 11 am IST. With the Opposition showing no sign of backing down on its demand for Home Minister Shah's resignation and the Chair remaining firm on Rule 267, another disrupted session cannot be ruled out. The continuing deadlock raises broader questions about the productivity of the ongoing parliamentary session.
Point of View
Sustained sloganeering rather than debate, plays directly into the Treasury bench's 'anarchy' narrative. What gets lost is any scrutiny of the substantive issues the Opposition is trying to raise, including the Ayodhya donation scam allegations, which deserve floor time on their merits. Parliament's productivity suffers on both sides of this standoff: the government avoids accountability, and the Opposition sacrifices the moral high ground that comes with disciplined legislative engagement. The country watching, as Chouhan put it, sees neither side covering itself in glory.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Rajya Sabha adjourned on 31 July?
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned on 31 July because sustained Opposition sloganeering made orderly proceedings impossible after Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan rejected a Rule 267 notice moved by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. The House will reconvene on Monday, 3 August at 11 am IST.
What is a Rule 267 notice in the Rajya Sabha?
Rule 267 is a provision that, if admitted by the Chair, suspends all listed business of the Rajya Sabha to allow an urgent matter to be taken up immediately. Chairman Radhakrishnan has repeatedly declined such notices this session, citing prior rulings.
What were the Opposition's demands during the disruption?
Opposition members demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sought a discussion on the alleged Ayodhya donation scam. These demands were pressed through continuous sloganeering rather than formal debate.
How did the government respond to the disruptions?
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan strongly criticised the Opposition, accusing members of indulging in 'street politics' inside Parliament and of disrespecting democratic institutions. He warned that 'India is watching them and the country will not forget this act.'
Was any business conducted despite the uproar?
Some limited business was conducted. BJP members Mahendra Bhatt from Uttarakhand and Ryaga Krishnaiah from Andhra Pradesh raised constituency matters with the Chairman's permission. Manan Kumar Mishra from Bihar sought legal protection for advocates against malicious FIRs, though his remarks were largely drowned out.
