Rajya Sabha adjourned six times due to paper leak

The Rajya Sabha is adjourned on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament in New Delhi on Monday (July 20, 2026). | Photo credit: ANI

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned six times on Monday (July 20, 2026) with the Opposition demanding action against the culprits in the NEET question paper leak case.

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The day’s proceedings began with Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan administering oath to nine newly elected members including three who recently defected from the Trinamool Congress to the BJP – Prakash Chik Baraik, Sushmita Dev and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray. The opposition shouted slogans as the three members were sworn in.

Congress members lashed out at BJP leader Mahesh Kewat, the newly elected member from Madhya Pradesh, where Congress’s Meenakshi Natrajan’s candidature was disqualified. As Mr Kewat was about to take the oath, they shouted “seat chori”.

BJP member Satish Poonia from Rajasthan, Congress member Pawan Khera from Karnataka, Mukeshbhai J. Rathwa (BJP-Gujarat), James Sangma (National People’s Party-Meghalaya) and Khiangte Laltluangkima (Zoram People’s Movement-Mizoram) were the others who took over.

After taking the oath and the customary laying of papers, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge flagged the recent paper leak and alerted the government to the police action at Jantar Mantar. “Thousands of students reached Jantar Mantar (where the protest is taking place) and were lathi-charged,” he said. “The government is trying to defeat them and suppress the problem,” Mr Kharge said as opposition members shouted “shame, shame”.

Amid the uproar, the Speaker adjourned the House until noon. Proceedings were adjourned for the second time till 12.30 pm The House was further adjourned until 12.50 pm and then again till 2.50 pm As the House met at 12.50 pm, the crowd at Rail Bhawan, just a few meters from the Parliament gate, began to swell. When the opposition raised the issue during sloganeering, Mr. Radhakrishnan adjourned the House till 2:00 p.m.

When the House reconvened, Deputy Speaker Harivansh informed members of the decision of the Business Advisory Committee, which had set aside time for government legislative business in its meeting on Monday.

As the opposition members continued to raise slogans, Mr. Harivansh urged them to maintain decorum. When MPs refused to budge, he adjourned the House for half an hour until 2.30pm. When the House reconvened, the Deputy Speaker tried to calm the opposition MPs and urged them to return to their seats and let the House run. However, the opposition ignored his appeal and Mr. Harivansh adjourned the House for the day.

Published – 20 Jul 2026 20:41 IST