Rajya Sabha adjourned amid vociferous protest over police action against NEET paper leak protesters

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 3 pm on Monday, July 27, after Opposition parties sought to raise the issue of police action against students protesting NEET paper leak in the national capital.

As soon as the House met at 2 pm, following two adjournments on the issue earlier in the day, Opposition parties led by Congress sought to raise the matter of alleged police brutality against the students.

Deputy Chairman Harivansh, who was in the Chair, said that matters related to The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 -- which was listed for consideration and passing in the list of business -- can only be raised.

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari and CPI (M) member John Brittas, however, sought to raise the issue of alleged police brutality against the protesting students.

DMK's Tiruchi Siva said the proposed bill is ultra vires the Constitution, to which Harivansh said the House has already given its sense.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai then moved the bill, amid continuous protest by the Opposition. Seeing continued vociferous protest, the Chair adjourned the House till 3 pm.

The bill, which seeks to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, makes desecration of or disrespect toward the country's national symbols - including the national flag, the Constitution, and the national anthem - a criminal offence, carrying a punishment of up to three years' imprisonment.

This is the third time that the House had to be adjourned. Earlier, when the Rajya Sabha met at 12 noon, after the first adjournment at 11 am, Opposition MPs again raised the issue of the alleged police brutalities.

The Rajya Sabha has been witnessing repeated disruptions since the beginning of the Monsoon session on July 20 over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) -- a medical entrance examination -- paper leak issue.