Matters pending before judiciary can't be discussed in Parliament: Rijiju on SIR debate

NEW DELHI: Matters pending before the judiciary cannot be discussed on the floor of the House, the govt asserted on Wednesday in Lok Sabha in response to continued demand from opposition parties for a discussion on the SIR exercise in Bihar.

Addressing the House, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijuju said the functioning of autonomous institutions, such as the Election Commission, cannot be discussed in Parliament. Rijiju cited a 1988 ruling by then LS speaker Bal Ram Jhakar that under the existing constitutional provisions, the House cannot comment upon the actions of EC. "On the issue of special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar for which they (opposition members) are disturbing the House from first day of the session, we all know that the matter is under consideration of SC and as such it is sub judice , and hence, a discussion cannot be held on the subject," he said.