PJ Kurien Rebuts Jaitley’s Allegations, Says the Chair is Unbiased

Here are five things Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha PJ Kurien said while explaining that the Chair is unbiased.

On Monday, BJP leader and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley questioned the way proceedings were being conducted in Rajya Sabha. Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien responded on Tuesday saying that the Chair is non-partisan and follows established procedures to run the House.

Kurien said the Chair “is trying its best to be impartial” and gave the floor to ministers if a notice for making a statement or intervention is given by them.

Soon after papers listed for the day were laid on the table, he said some members have expressed “apprehensions about how the Chair is conducting” proceedings of the House.

Kurien Defends the Chair

Deputy Chairman Kurien made a few points defending the impartiality of the Chair. Here’s what he had to say.

• The Chair goes by a procedure ... (if) I have notices in my hand, it is my duty to dispose of the notices (first).
• The first notice to be taken is under rule 267 that seeks suspension of business.
• Whether to allow the motion (under rule 267), the Chair has to take a decision and to decide on that, the Chair has to listen to the members (who have given the notice).
• Some ministers have doubt whether they are being allowed to speak ... if a minister gives notice, that minister will certainly will be allowed to make the statement.
• Chair is trying its best to be impartial. Chair is not at all partisan.

Jaitley had taken strong objection to Congress members stopping their slogan-shouting to allow Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and JD(U) leader KC Tyagi to speak but launched vociferous protests when it was the turn of the treasury benches.

It is unfortunate the way House is being conducted. The LoP (Leader of Opposition) is allowed to speak while the government is not allowed to respond. ... You can’t have the House conducted in a manner in which Government is not allowed to speak.
— Arun Jaitley, Union Finance Minister

Jaitley also told the Chair that it was “your responsibility” to run the House properly.