On July 10, 2025, Jagdeep Dhankhar cheerfully announced "I will retire at the right time -- August 2027, subject to divine intervention." He was the Vice President of India and, ex officio, Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. On July 21, Dhankhar quietly resigned from the office of Vice President and, consequently, quit as Chairman.

What happened between July 10 and July 21 is what makes life a mystery.

Both Houses of Parliament began 'normally' on Monday, July 21. On the previous day, the government had convened the customary meeting of the floor leaders of political parties. The customary assurances of debate 'on all issues' and co-operation were exchanged between the government and the Opposition. Sadly, however, in the working of the Indian Parliament, there is currently no consensus between the Treasury and the Opposition on what, when and how the House may debate an issue of urgent importance.

Bone of Contention

The Opposition in the Rajya Sabha usually insists on a debate under Rule 267. Rule 267 is a parliamentary device to defer the listed business and take up an issue of urgent importance. The motion is called an ‘adjournment motion’. There is nothing sinister about invoking Rule 267.

However, the NDA has considered a debate under Rule 267 as equivalent to a 'censure' of the government. (Perhaps, some........

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