RAJYA SABHA ---ITS CONTRIBUTION TO INDIAN POLITY © Rajya Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi Website : http://parliamentofindia.nic.in : http://rajyasabha.nic.in Email :
[email protected] CONTENTS PAGE Introduction .......................................................................................... 1-2 Historical Background .......................................................................... 3-4 Constitutional Provisions in respect of the Rajya Sabha .................... 5-7 The Role of the Rajya Sabha The Rajya Sabha as a Legislative Body ..................................... 8-11 Rajya Sabha’s role in scrutinising performance of the executive or ventilating public grievances ................................. 11-13 Role of the Rajya Sabha through Private Members ................... 13-14 Rajya Sabha as a Debating Chamber .......................................... 14-15 Rajya Sabha as a Federal Chamber ............................................. 15-16 The Chairmen and some leading luminaries of the Rajya Sabha ......... 17-18 Relationship between the Two Houses ................................................ 19 Concluding Observations ..................................................................... 20-21 Select Bibliography ............................................................................... 22 INTRODUCTION The raison d’etre of a Second Chamber for a Parliament and of its status and role in the body politic has always remained a subject of animated and fierce debate. The need or otherwise of a Second House of