In a historic second for parliamentary historical past, the Rajya Sabha concluded its second-longest sitting within the early hours of Friday, passing the Waqf (Modification) Invoice, 2025, and approving a decision for the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur.
The Higher Home commenced proceedings at 11 am on Thursday and remained in session till 4:02 am on Friday, marking a 17-hour sitting with no break. This was the Rajya Sabha’s longest sitting in over 4 many years, second solely to the September 17, 1981 session which prolonged till 4:43 am for the passage of the Important Companies Upkeep Invoice.
The Lok Sabha handed the Waqf Invoice on Thursday, following which it was taken up for debate within the Rajya Sabha. The federal government initiated a dialogue on President’s Rule in Manipur round 2 am, whilst many of the nation slept.
Celebrating the passage of the Waqf (Modification) Invoice, Union Dwelling Minister Amit Shah hailed it because the “finish of an period of injustice and corruption.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi additionally lauded the event, calling it a “historic occasion” and thanking all Members of Parliament for his or her assist. He mentioned the Invoice marked a shift towards a contemporary, socially simply framework for managing Waqf properties.
Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar, in his concluding remarks, acknowledged the historic nature of the session. “On April 3, 2025, the Rajya Sabha etched its identify within the annals of legislative historical past with an unprecedented sitting… This session shall be remembered for its historic legislative accomplishments and the spirit of unity that prevailed,” he introduced within the Home.
The Rajya Sabha has witnessed a number of prolonged classes prior to now, together with the consideration of the Muslim Girls (Safety of Rights on Divorce) Invoice in 1986 and the dialogue on the Bofors scandal within the late Nineteen Eighties. Nonetheless, Thursday’s session stands out for its length and legislative significance.
Each Homes of Parliament had been adjourned sine die on Friday, with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourning proceedings at 12 midday and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar doing so at 1 pm. The subsequent Monsoon session is anticipated to start later this yr, although official dates are but to be introduced.
(With inputs from PTI)