Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday informed the Parliament he reconstituted the panel of vice-chairpersons of the Upper House with half of them being women. He said members will be happy to note that 50 per cent of vice-chairpersons happen to be women.
Rajya Sabha S Phangnon Konyak becomes the first ever woman from Nagaland nominated to the panel of Vice-Chairpersons.
Phangnon Konyak's debut in RS panel
All four women in the panel are first-time members of the Rajya Sabha and Phangnon Konyak becomes the first ever woman from Nagaland nominated to the panel of Vice-Chairpersons.
Who are the new vice-chairpersons?
Among the Rajya Sabha members who are the new vice-chairpersons are PT Usha, S Phangnon Konyak, Fauzia Khan, Sulata Deo, V Vijaysai Reddy, Ghanshyam Tiwari, L Hanumanthaiah and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray.
The House members are informed that the panel of vice chairpersons has been reconstituted with effect from July 17, 2023, he said.
What is the rule to reconstitute the vice-chairpersons panel?
As per Rajya Sabha rules - the chairman shall, from time to time, nominate from amongst the members of the Council a panel of not more than six vice-chairmen, one of whom may preside over the Council in the absence of the chairman and the deputy chairman when so requested by the chairman, or in his absence, by the deputy chairman.
A vice-chairperson nominated under sub-rule (1) shall hold office until a new panel of vice-chairperson is nominated, the rules say.
Soon after the Rajya Sabha met after an hour's adjournment, the chairman greeted the House members on their birthdays, wishing Rajmani Patel of the Congress, and Laxmikant Bajpayee and Sangeeta Yadav, both of the BJP.
"On my own and your behalf I wish them a long, healthy and happy life and be ever in the service of the nation," he said.
Dhankhar also said that he has received a letter dated April 11, 2023, from Luizinho Faleiro, a Rajya Sabha member from West Bengal, resigning from his seat, which he has accepted.
"I have accepted his resignation with effect from April 11, 2023," the chairman informed the house.
(With PTI inputs)
