Parliament Disrupted Over Bihar Electoral Roll Dispute, Sports Bills Clear Lok Sabha Amid Protests
The Monsoon Session of Parliament witnessed yet another day of disruptions on Monday, August 11, 2025, as both Houses were forced to adjourn until 2 p.m. due to loud protests by Opposition MPs demanding a debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls and other matters.
Scenes in the Lok Sabha
When the Lok Sabha reconvened after the weekend, Opposition members, including Congress MPs, rose to their feet, shouting slogans and brandishing placards. Speaker Om Birla attempted to proceed with Question Hour, fielding queries to the Ministry of Environment and Forests despite the commotion. However, within 10 minutes, he halted proceedings, accusing the Opposition of systematically blocking the House’s work for two weeks.
“This is against the rules and democratic spirit,” Birla remarked, urging MPs to represent the people’s interests instead of engaging solely in protests. With no sign of calm, the House was adjourned until the afternoon.
The Opposition’s central demand was a detailed discussion on the SIR process initiated by the Election Commission ahead of Bihar’s upcoming assembly elections.
Rajya Sabha Adjourned in Minutes
The Upper House fared no better, with proceedings halted almost immediately after they began. Opposition MPs moved into the aisles and well of the House, pressing for a debate on alleged irregularities in Bihar’s voter list revision.
Deputy Chairman Harivansh rejected 29 notices under Rule 267, which allows suspension of scheduled business for urgent debates, citing procedural lapses and the sub judice status of the matter. He reminded members that parliamentary rules restrict discussion on ongoing court cases to avoid influencing judicial outcomes.
Despite his clarification and an appeal to resume Zero Hour, Opposition MPs persisted with slogan-shouting, prompting another adjournment. Harivansh noted that continued disruptions had already cost the Rajya Sabha over 62 hours of productive time this session.
Legislation Moves Forward Despite Uproar
Amid the noise, the Lok Sabha managed to pass two significant sports reform bills when it reconvened after the early adjournment: the National Sports Governance Bill and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill-2025.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya described the governance bill as the “single biggest reform in Indian sports since independence,” aimed at ensuring accountability, transparency, and better governance in sports federations.
The bill proposes the creation of a National Sports Board (NSB) with powers to regulate National Sports Federations (NSFs), de-recognise bodies failing to meet governance standards, and bring all recognised sports bodies under the ambit of the RTI Act if they receive government funding. It also introduces a National Sports Tribunal to resolve disputes between federations and athletes, with appeals only possible in the Supreme Court.
Key provisions include flexibility in age limits for sports administrators and mandatory compliance with election and financial audit norms.
Amendments to Anti-Doping Law
The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill-2025 was passed to align India’s regulations with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) requirements. The changes remove government oversight of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) to preserve its operational independence, a move WADA had demanded.
Originally enacted in 2022, the law’s implementation was stalled due to concerns over political interference. The amendments now ensure that the National Anti-Doping Board cannot issue directions to NADA, focusing instead on compliance with global anti-doping norms.
Looking Ahead
While the passage of these bills marks a milestone for India’s sports governance framework, the persistent parliamentary deadlock over the SIR controversy signals more turbulent days ahead. With the Bihar elections approaching, the political heat around electoral roll revisions is unlikely to cool soon.