New Delhi, August 4 (newsalert24x7): Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi has strongly criticised the Central Government over the manner in which several bills were passed during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, alleging that important legislation was cleared within minutes without adequate discussion or scrutiny.

In a video message, Chaturvedi claimed that three bills were passed in around three minutes amid Opposition protests, objections and walkouts, raising questions over whether MPs were being given sufficient time to examine the provisions and voice their concerns. She alleged that the rapid passage of the legislation reflected a lack of meaningful parliamentary debate and said that important laws affecting citizens should not be cleared without detailed scrutiny.

Concerns Over the Public Examinations Bill

Chaturvedi particularly raised concerns over the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, which seeks to strengthen action against unfair practices and organised examination-related malpractice:

  • Punitive Provisions: She pointed out that the provisions include jail terms of up to 10 years and fines of up to ₹10 crore for institutional offences, but argued that stronger accountability is needed to address the larger problem of examination paper leaks.
  • Systemic Failures: According to Chaturvedi, the Opposition's concern is that the legislation focuses more on punishing offenders than addressing the systemic failures that allow paper leaks to occur.
  • Official Accountability: She questioned whether senior officials and examination agencies would face adequate accountability when serious irregularities take place.
  • Impact on Students: She highlighted the absence of clear provisions for compensation or re-examination of students affected by paper leaks, arguing that students who suffer because of examination fraud should not be left to bear the consequences of failures within the examination system.

Questions Raised Over Vande Mataram Provisions

Chaturvedi also criticised provisions relating to ‘Vande Mataram’ in the National Honour Insults Prevention (Amendment) Bill, 2026:

  • She said the amendment seeks to provide legal protection to ‘Vande Mataram’ similar to that provided to the national anthem and includes punishment of up to three years for deliberate obstruction of its singing or intentional insult.
  • Questioning the speed with which the legislation was considered, she said matters involving national symbols deserve detailed parliamentary discussion and careful examination before being enacted.

Procedural Changes in Registration of Births and Deaths

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also raised questions over the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, particularly its provisions dealing with delayed registration:

  • New Requirement: She said that under the new system, if a birth or death is not registered within two years, the applicant would need to obtain an order from a Judicial Magistrate First Class, instead of approaching the local executive authority as under the earlier arrangement.
  • Lack of Discussion: Chaturvedi questioned whether such a significant procedural change had received adequate discussion in Parliament before being passed.
  • Administrative Burden: She argued that birth and death registration is an essential administrative process and that changes to the system could create additional difficulties for citizens who are already struggling with delayed documentation.

Broader Criticism of Parliamentary Functioning

Her criticism extended beyond the individual bills to the broader functioning of Parliament during the Monsoon Session:

  • Chaturvedi alleged that several pieces of legislation were taken up and passed amid Opposition protests, sloganeering and walkouts, leaving little opportunity for detailed debate.
  • She maintained that parliamentary democracy is not limited to voting on bills but also depends on discussion, scrutiny, questioning and accountability.
  • According to her, Opposition MPs should be given sufficient time to study proposed laws, raise objections and suggest changes before legislation is approved.

Political Tensions Escalating

Her remarks come amid continuing political tensions between the government and Opposition during the Monsoon Session, with both sides locked in repeated confrontations over legislative business and other major issues. Chaturvedi's allegations are expected to further intensify the debate over the parliamentary process and whether important legislation is receiving adequate scrutiny before being passed.

While the government has continued to pursue its legislative agenda, the Opposition has maintained that bills with significant legal and public implications should be subjected to detailed discussion. The latest controversy has once again highlighted the wider debate over speedy passage of legislation versus thorough parliamentary scrutiny, with Chaturvedi arguing that the strength of democracy lies not only in passing laws but also in ensuring that every major provision receives meaningful debate before it becomes part of the law.

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