Decode Politics: As DMK MPs are pulled up for wearing T-shirts with slogans, what Lok Sabha rules say

Questioning the Speaker’s decision, Congress whip in the Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore said: “This government does not want to run the House… They are afraid of the Congress and the Opposition raising the issue of Punjab farmers. (Punjab Congress leaders) Charanjit Singh Channi and Amarinder Singh Warring are prepared to take on the government on this issue. That is why the Treasury Benches used the ‘Dress Code’ as an excuse.”

What is Rule 349?

The conduct of MPs and the procedure through which Parliament operates are outlined in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha. Rule 349 pertains to the “rules to be observed by members in House”.

“The Constituent Assembly (Legislative) Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in force immediately before the commencement of the Constitution of India were modified and adopted by the Speaker of Lok Sabha in exercise of the powers conferred on the Speaker by article 118(2) of the Constitution,” reads the preface to the 15th edition of the Rules.

Subsequent changes and amendments were made to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.

What does Rule 349 say?

A range of things are codified in a set of 23 sub-rules that make up Rule 349.

While the House is in session, a member “shall not read any book, newspaper or letter except in connection with the business of the House” or “interrupt any member while speaking by disorderly expression or noises or in any other disorderly manner”.

The MPs are expected to bow to the Chair while entering or leaving the House, and should not pass between the Chair and any member who is speaking. They are also prohibited from leaving the House when the Speaker is addressing the House, and maintain silence when not speaking in the House.

A rule is as specific as “not obstruct proceedings” by “hissing or interrupting”. The MPs are expected to avoid “making running commentaries when another member is speaking”.

The MPs shall not wear “display badges of any kind in the House except the National Flag in the form of a lapel pin or a badge” or “distribute within the precincts of Parliament House any literature, questionnaire, pamphlets, press notes, leaflets” that are “not connected with the business of the House”.

They are also prohibited from “tearing off documents in the House in protest, bringing or playing the cassette or tape recorder in the House”. They should also “avoid talking or laughing in Lobby loud enough to be heard in the House”.

Has this rule been invoked in the past?

During the Monsoon session of Parliament in 2024, amid chaos in the House, Congress MP Hibi Eden drew the ire of the Treasury Bench when he raised a point of order during Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s speech to draw the Speaker’s attention to Rule 349(2), which states that members shall not interrupt any MP’s speech in the House by disorderly expression or noises or in any other manner.

In the Winter Session months later, the BJP targetted Gandhi and the Congress, accusing them of being part of a plan to “derail” India’s economy and “disrupt” its democracy.

The BJP raised these charges of a “global conspiracy” the same day as Congress MPs, along with leaders of other INDIA bloc parties, came to Parliament wearing black jackets with stickers that read, “Modi Adani Ek Hai” and “Adani Safe Hai (Adani is safe)”. Congress whip Manickam Tagore claimed this “unique” protest stirred “the whole BJP and the government machinery into action to raise wild allegations”.

However, the move also led to a rap from Birla who cited Rule 349 to urge MPs not to sport lapel pins and badges other than the Tricolour in Parliament.