This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
THE RAJYA SABHA


THE WORK OF THE SECRETARY- GENERAL OF THE RAJYA SABHA


India’s “Council of States”, the Rajya Sabha or upper House of the Parliament of India, has 245 Members and 1,600 staff divided into almost 60 different sections. Heading the Secretariat of this House is a vital position in India’s democracy that requires political acumen and a wide range of abilities, including the fortitude to work extremely long days.


Dr V.K. Agnihotri in New Delhi Dr Agnihotri was the Secretary-General of the Rajya Sabha, the upper House in the Parliament of India, from 2007 to 30 September 2012. He was Secretary for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs from 2003 to 2005 and an Administrative Member of the Central Administrative Tribunal (Principal Bench) of New Delhi from 2006 to 2007.


Each Parliament around the world relies on the efficient functioning of a well organized and competent administrative body to conduct its business smoothly. The efficacy of the Secretariat, which looks after the day- to-day administration and legislative needs of Parliament, reflects the ability and resourcefulness of the head of the organization, which in the case of the Indian Parliament’s upper House, the Rajya Sabha, is the Secretary-General. The post is entrusted with a wide range of duties and functions which necessitate vast knowledge and rich experience of parliamentary procedures, practices and precedents.


Role and position of the Secretary-General Each House of India’s Parliament has its separate Secretariat which functions under the direction and


192 | The Parliamentarian | 2012: Issue Three


control of its Presiding Officer. The Secretary-General of the Rajya Sabha functions as the head of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat and advisor to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. As the head of the Secretariat, he or she is expected to be conversant with all matters that have a reference to the Rajya Sabha and its business, whether they relate to some constitutional issue or some procedure that should be followed in a given situation. As advisor to the Chairman in matters concerning the Rajya Sabha or its Secretariat, he is the repository of accumulated wisdom of the House, and the custodian of its culture, traditions and precedents. He is, therefore, expected to possess certain special abilities, traits, orientation and aptitude. The Secretary-General is the third


most important functionary of the Rajya Sabha after the Chairman and


Dr V.K. Agnihotri.


the Deputy Chairman. He is chosen and appointed by the Chairman. In the Warrant of Precedence, he holds the rank corresponding to the Cabinet Secretary, who is the senior-most bureaucrat in the government of India. He is seated just below the


Chairman’s seat in the Rajya Sabha Chamber, to be available for consultation and advice on procedural


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84