M. Mohamed Abdulla, another DMK MP, then spoke up to disagree with the ruling. "This has been the practice for so long, for 60-70 years," he remarked.
Digital Desk: The Rajya Sabha chairman and vice president, Jagdeep Dhankhar informed the house on December 8 that the Friday session times had been changed to be consistent with the Lok Sabha's timetables. When Tiruchi N. Siva, a DMK MP, brought up the fact that a matter was included at 2:00 PM on Friday, December 8, the vice president made the following statement.
His concern came from the fact that Friday lunch breaks are extended by thirty minutes under the Rajya Sabha's Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, so Muslim members of the upper house can perform namaz. The Rajya Sabha runs from 11 AM to 1 PM, and then from 2 PM to 6 PM, with a hour lunch break between 1 PM and 2 PM, by the regulations. However, the house sits after lunch at 2:30 PM on Fridays. It is thought that this additional break is permitted on Fridays for namaz even if it is not stated.
Friday at zero hour, just after the house convened for business, the DMK MP brought up the issue as a point of order.
But as MP Tiruchi N. Siva pointed out, this ‘namaz’ break has been removed from the Rajya Sabha. However, chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar stated that this has been in practice for some time and did not begin this Friday. "Honourable Members, as of today, this will not be done. I previously completed this before, and I provided an explanation for it," he said.
According to the chairman of the house, the Friday schedule has been adjusted to coincide with the Lok Sabha. Interestingly, the Rajya Sabha was the sole body to observe the Friday "namaz" break. "At 2:00 PM, Lok Sabha meets. Since the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are essential components of Parliament, they must, wherever feasible, meet at the same time. As per my directive, that earlier time was 2 PM. So, to clarify, today is not the beginning," stated Jagdeep Dhankhar.
M. Mohamed Abdulla, another DMK MP, then spoke up to disagree with the ruling. "This has been the practice for so long, for 60-70 years," he remarked. "Sir, 2:30 PM was set aside for Muslim members to have their Friday jumma. It was practice," he added.
VP Dhankar countered that as parliament is made up of representatives from all communities, there cannot be a special exception for Muslim parliamentarians only.
"Honourable Members, members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are chosen from every section of society. Lok Sabha sits at 2 PM. Every sector is represented among the Members. I had consciously made the change, and informed the House, and it had already been implemented during the previous session. The House will reconvene at 2 p.m. following lunch, in accordance with the timetable set by the Lok Sabha, it was announced," he said.
Members stopped protesting after the chairman reaffirmed that the scheduling modification had been made during the previous session and that they had been informed of it.
Nevertheless, the 2016 version of the Rajya Sabha's Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business document, which is available on the Sansad website, still lists Friday lunch breaks as extra thirty minutes.
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