Both houses of Parliament was adjourned many times on Thursday due to the protests led by DMK, wearing T-shirts with slogans on the issue of delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla objected to the DMK members wearing T-shirts with slogans written on them, and said such actions were against the rules of procedure of the House. Both the Houses failed to transact any business and were adjourned for the day. 

Birla adjourned the proceedings till noon. Similar scenes were witnessed when the House reconvened at 12 noon and TDP member Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was in the chair, adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm.  DMK members were wearing white T-shirts with slogans ‘#fairdelimitation Tamil Nadu will fight, Tamil Nadu will win’ written on them.  “House functions with rules and procedures. Members have to maintain the dignity and honour of the House.

But some MPs are not following the rules and violating the dignity which is not acceptable,” Birla said when the House met at 11 am. The Speaker directed those members, who came wearing T-shirts with slogans written on them, to go out of the House and come back with proper dress maintaining dignity.

“However big a leader is, such undignified attire is not acceptable inside the House. Go outside, change your clothes and come back with a proper dress,” he told the members citing parliamentary rules and adjourned the House till 12 noon. DMK members have been trying to raise the issue of delimitation in the Lok Sabha, but Speaker had rejected their pleas contending that the issue is nowhere on the Government radar as the census of population was yet to be conducted.  Birla said attending the House proceedings wearing T-shirts with slogans written on those is not acceptable and against parliamentary rules and decorum.

“House functions with rules and procedures. Members have to maintain the dignity and honour of the House. But some MPs are not following the rules and violating the dignity, which is not acceptable,” Birla said, citing Rule 349 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the House of the People.

The Speaker directed those members, who came wearing T-shirts with slogans written on those, to go out of the House and come back wearing proper dresses. Rule 349 deals with “Rules to be observed by members in House”. Rule 349(xvi) says: “Whilst the House is sitting, a member shall not display flags, emblems or any exhibits in the House.”

Another sub-clause bars the members from wearing or displaying badges of any kind in the House, except the national flag in the form of a lapel pin or a badge.

Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day as soon as it reconvened at 2 pm. The proceedings of the Upper House witnessed three adjournments during the pre-lunch period over the issue. “The House stands adjourned to meet at 11 am on Friday, 21st March,” Deputy Chairman Harivansh informed members.

Earlier in the day, soon after laying of papers, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar adjourned the proceedings for an hour till 12 noon and called a meeting of floor leaders of various parties. From the beginning, Dhankar objected DMK wearing T-Shirts with slogans against delimitation.

However, the deadlock over the issue continued and when the House reassembled at 12 noon, deputy Chairman Harivansh announced that the proceedings had been adjourned again for another 15 minutes. At 12.15, he again came and announced that the House stands adjourned till 2 pm, amid the deadlock.