In a historic moment for parliamentary history, the Rajya Sabha concluded its second-longest sitting in the early hours of Friday, passing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and approving a resolution for the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur.
The Upper House commenced proceedings at 11 am on Thursday and remained in session until 4:02 am on Friday, marking a 17-hour sitting without a break. This was the Rajya Sabha’s longest sitting in over four decades, second only to the September 17, 1981 session which extended until 4:43 am for the passage of the Essential Services Maintenance Bill.
The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf Bill on Thursday, following which it was taken up for debate in the Rajya Sabha. The government initiated a discussion on President’s Rule in Manipur around 2 am, even as most of the country slept.
Celebrating the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed it as the “end of an era of injustice and corruption.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lauded the development, calling it a “historic event” and thanking all Members of Parliament for their support. He said the Bill marked a shift toward a modern, socially just 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 name in the annals of legislative history with an unprecedented sitting… This session will be remembered for its historic legislative accomplishments and the spirit of unity that prevailed,” he announced in the House.
The Rajya Sabha has witnessed several extended sessions in the past, including the consideration of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Bill in 1986 and the discussion on the Bofors scandal in the late 1980s. However, Thursday’s session stands out for its duration and legislative significance.
Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die on Friday, with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourning proceedings at 12 noon and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar doing so at 1 pm. The next Monsoon session is expected to begin later this year, though official dates are yet to be announced.
(With inputs from PTI)