New Delhi, August 12(HS): Day 17 of the Monsoon Session of Parliament was marked by high drama, repeated disruptions, and fiery political confrontation, as Opposition MPs under the INDIA bloc banner brought legislative proceedings to a standstill over alleged irregularities in Bihar’s electoral rolls.

The uproar, focused on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, saw opposition leaders charging the Election Commission of India (ECI) with presiding over “massive voter fraud.” The Lok Sabha was adjourned twice — first till noon and later until 3:00 pm — while the Rajya Sabha was suspended until 2:00 pm.

Inside the Parliament complex, scenes were charged with symbolism — MPs donned protest T-shirts emblazoned with the name Minta Devi, a voter reportedly listed as 124 years old in the ECI database, which the Opposition cited as a glaring example of “fake entries” and “systemic manipulation.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi declared, “We are protecting the Constitution. The EC is failing to enforce the principle of ‘One Man, One Vote’… There are countless cases like Minta Devi.” Fellow Congress MP Manickam Tagore alleged that under the current leadership, the ECI had “become a department of the BJP.”

High-Profile Legislative Turn: Impeachment Panel Constituted

In a rare and significant move, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla admitted a notice for the removal of Allahabad High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma. Citing the seriousness of the charges, Birla announced the formation of a three-member inquiry panel comprising:

- Justice Aravind Kumar, Supreme Court Judge

- Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court

- B V Acharya, veteran jurist and senior advocate

The panel will investigate allegations that could potentially lead to parliamentary impeachment proceedings against the judge.

Legislative Business Amidst Turmoil

Even as chants and placards filled the premises, some government business moved forward:

- Extension for One Nation, One Election Panel — The Lok Sabha extended the deadline for the Joint Parliamentary Committee report on the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 to the final week of the Winter Session.

- Tax Reforms — The House passed the Income Tax (No. 2) Bill, 2025 and the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, intended to overhaul and consolidate India’s tax regime. The bills now await Rajya Sabha approval and Presidential assent.

Sports Governance Revamp — The National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, hailed by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya as the “biggest reform in Indian sports since Independence,” cleared the Lok Sabha despite opposition criticism warning of “excessive centralisation” and special treatment for bodies like the BCCI.

In the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Piyush Goyal successfully moved a motion to elect members to the Tea Board, Coffee Board, and Spices Board, signaling routine legislative business amid the political storm.

Political Tensions Show No Sign of Easing

The INDIA bloc, which includes Congress, AAP, and other opposition allies, vowed to intensify its protests until the ECI addresses what it calls “structural and deliberate voter list manipulation.” The controversy, coupled with the historic move to initiate impeachment proceedings against a sitting High Court judge, ensured that Day 17 of the Monsoon Session will be remembered as one of the most combustible in recent parliamentary history.

As the House prepares to reconvene later in the day, both sides appear locked in confrontation — with the nation’s democratic processes and institutional accountability at the heart of the clash.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar