Rule 267 and Rule 176 are two different rules of the Rajya Sabha that govern the discussion of urgent matters of public importance.
- Rule 267 allows a Rajya Sabha MP to suspend the pre-decided agenda of the House, with the approval of the Chairman. This means that the MP can force the House to discuss an issue that they believe is of urgent importance, even if it is not on the agenda.
- Rule 176 allows for short-duration discussions on urgent matters of public importance. To use this rule, an MP must give written notice to the Secretary-General, specifying the matter to be raised and the reasons why it is of urgent importance. The Chairman may then decide to hold a short-duration discussion on the matter.
In the context of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Opposition wanted to use Rule 267 to force a discussion on the Manipur situation. The government, on the other hand, was opposed to using Rule 267, and instead wanted to use Rule 176. The government argued that Rule 267 is a "heavyweight" rule that should only be used in exceptional circumstances, and that the Manipur situation did not meet the criteria for using this rule. The Opposition argued that the Manipur situation was indeed an urgent matter of public importance, and that the government was trying to avoid a discussion on this issue.
Ultimately, the Chairman decided to use Rule 176 to allow a short-duration discussion on the Manipur situation. The discussion lasted for two and a half hours, and both the Opposition and the government had an opportunity to present their views.
It is important to note that the use of Rule 267 and Rule 176 is subject to the discretion of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The Chairman has the power to decide whether or not to allow an MP to use these rules, and they can also decide how long the discussion will last.