Secretary General of Rajya Sabha

News: The Supreme Court raised concerns that the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha exceeded his administrative role while preparing a draft decision on a removal motion.

About Secretary General of Rajya Sabha

• The Secretary General is the administrative head of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat and assists the Chairman in the overall functioning of parliamentary business.
• Constitutional Provision: Under Article 98 of the Indian Constitution, each House of Parliament is mandated to have its own separate secretarial staff.
• Appointment by: The Secretary General is appointed by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, who is the Vice President of India.
• Rank and Status: The position holds a rank equivalent to the Cabinet Secretary of the Government of India, who is the senior-most bureaucrat in the country.
• Roles and Responsibilities
  • Advisory Role: The Secretary General assists the Presiding Officer in conducting the business of the House by interpreting rules and parliamentary precedents.
  • Administrative Head: The Secretary General manages the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, including budget proposals and the allocation of work among officers.
  • Parliamentary Functions:
    • The Secretary General prepares the daily List of Business for each session.
    • The Secretary General summons members to attend sessions on behalf of the President of India.
    • The Secretary General acts as the Returning Officer for the elections of the President and the Vice President, alternating with the Lok Sabha Secretary General.
  • Custodial Duties: The Secretary General serves as the custodian of the official records of the House.

Recent Developments

• In the Justice Yashwant Varma removal motion case, the Supreme Court stated that the Secretary General has only an administrative role and cannot perform quasi-adjudicatory functions.
• The Court clarified that the admission of a removal motion should be decided by the Rajya Sabha Chairman or the Lok Sabha Speaker, as applicable.