Lok Sabha adjourned over land bill

The Lok Sabha was briefly adjourned in the post-lunch session after opposition members sought a division over a motion moved by Rural Development Minister Birendra Singh concerning the land bill.

Opposition members pressed for division on the motion but the treasury benches said that the motion had been adopted and the opposition did not raise the demand for division in time.

Following the din, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the house for about ten minutes.

Birendra Singh moved a motion to suspend Rule 338 in its application "to the moving of motions for considering and passing" of the land bill in the current session of the Lok Sabha.

Rule 338 of the rules of procedure and conduct of business in the Lok Sabha says that "a motion shall not raise a question substantially identical with one on which the house has given a decision in the same session."