Rule 267 is a procedural rule in India's Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament. It allows members to move a motion to suspend certain rules of the house to discuss a matter of urgent public importance. This rule is often used when lawmakers want to raise an issue that is not part of the scheduled business for the day.
However, there is an important caveat. The suspension under Rule 267 can only happen if the matter to be discussed is already listed in that day's business agenda. This means that the topic must be among the items officially set for discussion on that particular day. The rule does not allow bringing up a completely new issue that is not on the agenda.
The purpose of this condition is to maintain order and ensure that the house's time is managed properly. It prevents disruptions and ensures that only matters already planned can be debated under the suspension. If a matter is not listed, members cannot invoke Rule 267 to discuss it.
In practice, Rule 267 is a tool for raising pressing issues quickly, but it operates within the framework of the day's scheduled business. Understanding this rule is key to following parliamentary procedures in India.