New Delhi: The rules review committee set up by Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu has, in its interim report, made two key recommendations: automatic suspension of wilful offenders and changing question-hour timing, sources said.

The two-member committee is headed by former secretary general of Rajya Sabha V.K. Agnihotri. The report has to be approved by the Rules Committee of the Upper House, which is headed by Mr. Naidu and has members from across parties. The automatic suspension of wilful offenders is a controversial clause which was debated by the Rajya Sabha secretariat when Hamid Ansari was the Chairman. The Lok Sabha has a provision for automatic suspension, but in the Rajya Sabha, the House has to vote on the Chair’s suggestion to suspend a member; the chair can’t take the decision on its own.

Sources said the committee has recommended that a clause similar to one available in the Lok Sabha should be available to the Chair in the Rajya Sabha too. The other recommendation is to restore the question hour to 11 a.m. from noon.

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