HANDBOOK FOR MEMBERS OF RAJYA SABHA RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT NEW DELHI January, 2010 © RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT, NEW DELHI http://parliamentofindia.nic.in http://rajyasabha.nic.in Email:
[email protected] Published by Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha and printed by Government of India Press, New Delhi. P R E F A C E This HANDBOOK is intended to serve as a guide on Parliamentary Practices and Procedures, amenities available to Members and certain other miscellaneous matters, which may be of interest to Members of Rajya Sabha, particularly the new Members. For purpose of facility, the Handbook explains the rules and procedures in simple language. The Handbook contains comprehensive information on the Parliamentary Committees, including the Department- related Committees. Besides, topics such as Parliamentary Friendship Groups and Parliamentary Fora, Inter-Parliamentary Union, Publications etc., have also been included in the publication. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) related services that are available to Members have also been included in the publication. The Handbook is only a guide to various parliamentary rules and procedures and, therefore, it cannot be treated as an authoritative text on the relevant provision of the Constitution and Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Rajya Sabha etc. For authoritative text, Members are advised to consult the relevant provisions of the Constitution of India, Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Rajya Sabha and the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 and the rules made thereunder. The term “House” has been used in this publication for the Rajya Sabha, unlike its definition in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha.