Lok Sabha Passes Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill Amid Opposition Protests

The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, by voice vote amid continued protests by Opposition members over the police crackdown on students during the July 20 parliament march. The Bill was taken up for consideration and passage without a debate after the House reassembled at noon, with BJP member Dilip Saikia in the Chair.

The Opposition MPs, several of whom trooped into the Well of the House, raised slogans demanding the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah. Their protests were rooted in the demand for a statement on the police action against student demonstrators who were part of a march to Parliament last month. The government, however, proceeded with the legislative business, bringing the Bill for a vote amid the commotion.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed displeasure over the absence of a substantive debate, stating that the government had wanted a discussion on what he described as an "important Bill." "It is unfortunate. Please do not repeat this in the future. People who sent you to Parliament will seek answers from you," he said. His remarks were directed at the Opposition's decision to skip the debate and instead press their demand for the Home Minister's response.

Presiding officer Dilip Saikia also lamented the lack of cooperation, calling it "unfortunate" that the Bill had to be passed without the participation of Opposition members. The Bill, which seeks to amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, was subsequently passed by voice vote, with no division requested.

The development occurred on the tenth day of the Monsoon Session, which has been largely disrupted by Opposition protests over the July 20 incident. During that march, police used force against students and civil society members who were attempting to reach Parliament to raise concerns over various issues, including unemployment and inflation. The crackdown has been widely criticised, and several Opposition parties have consistently demanded a thorough inquiry and a statement from the Home Minister in Parliament.

In a separate but related procedural matter, BJP member Aparajita Sarangi, who chairs the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, was granted an extension for the panel's report. The new deadline is the first day of the last week of the Winter Session, giving the committee additional time to finalise its recommendations.

The passage of the Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill without debate raises questions about the functioning of Parliament, as key legislations are being cleared amid protests, leaving little room for scrutiny by elected representatives. While the government maintains that the Bill is important for streamlining birth and death registration and creating a national database, the manner of its passage has drawn criticism from those who argue that crucial laws should not be rushed through without discussion, especially when the Opposition is seeking accountability on other pressing matters.

The Bill is expected to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha for consideration. The government will need to navigate the ongoing protests in the upper house as well, where similar demands for a statement on the police action have been made. With the monsoon session continuing, the legislative agenda remains crowded, and the friction between the government and Opposition shows no signs of easing.