Recently, a significant security breach occurred in India’s Lok Sabha following leaders’ tributes to security personnel martyred during the 2001 Parliament attack. This article explores the details of the breach, the rules for Parliament visitors and discusses the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament, among other related topics.
The Delhi Police have invoked sections of the “Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,” an anti-terror law, against the accused persons. In addition to this, these individuals are also facing charges under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which relate to criminal conspiracy, trespass, provoking a riot, and obstructing a public servant from performing their duties.
During the breach, the accused were carrying visitors’ passes that had been issued to them.
Parliament Visitor Rules: What You Need To Know
Rule 386 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha regulates the “admission, withdrawal, and removal” of visitors (termed as “strangers” in parliamentary language) during House sittings. Rule 387 grants the Speaker the authority to withdraw “strangers” from any part of the House deemed necessary.
Additionally, Rule 387A, authorized by the Speaker, gives a Secretariat officer the power to remove or take into custody any stranger within the House precincts reserved for members. This rule covers strangers who exhibit misbehavior, violate Speaker’s regulations (under Rule 386), or fail to withdraw when directed under Rule 387 during House sittings.
As per the rules, members can apply for visitors’ cards only for individuals personally well-known to them. The system requires a mention stating, “The above-named visitor is my relative/personal friend/known to me personally, and I take full responsibility for him/her.” Visitors need to carry photo identification alongside their cards for security reasons.
Member Responsibility in Parliament
Members bear responsibility for any untoward incident or undesirable activity in the galleries resulting from cardholders. They are advised to exercise utmost care, particularly when introducing individuals personally known to them.
2001 Attack on the Indian Parliament: A Recap
The 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament was a devastating terrorist incident that took place on December 13, 2001. Armed militants, involved with the Pakistan-based extremist organizations Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, attacked the Parliament of India in New Delhi. This tragic event resulted in the loss of numerous security personnel and government officials.
The attack not only exposed the vulnerability of India’s democratic parliamentary system to external threats but also prompted a major overhaul of its security systems to better protect the institution and its people.
Examining UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
One previous year question from the UPSC Civil Services Examination related to how the Parliament of India exercises control over the functions of the Council of Ministers through adjournment motion, question hour, and supplementary questions.
The adjournment motion interrupts the House’s normal business, making it a censure device against the government. The question hour is a tool of “Parliamentary Oversight” over the administration or executive during which the government is answerable for all its acts of omission and commission to the Parliament. There are four types of questions: Starred Questions, Unstarred Questions, Short Notice Question and Question to Private Member. In a Starred Question, an oral answer is required from the minister, and members can ask supplementary questions.