Births and Deaths Amendment Bill 2026 Passed in Lok Sabha Amid Uproar

The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, amid noisy protests by Opposition members over a police crackdown. The bill was cleared without any debate as slogans filled the chamber, forcing the Speaker to put it to voice vote. Both Houses of Parliament were subsequently adjourned till August 3.

Bill Passed Amid Protests

The passage came on the tenth day of the Monsoon Session, which has been repeatedly disrupted by Opposition protests. Members of several parties raised slogans over the police action, drowning out proceedings. The bill was taken up for consideration and passed in a matter of minutes.

Officials said the proposed law seeks to amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. The amendments aim to streamline registration processes and introduce provisions for digital records.

Key Provisions of the Bill

The Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, is expected to make registration of births and deaths more efficient. It proposes to update the legal framework to align with contemporary administrative needs. The bill also enables the use of technology for record-keeping and verification.

Government sources indicated that the amendments would help in better data management and could assist in policy planning. However, the exact details of the final version passed were not immediately available to the public.

Opposition Demands Debate

Opposition leaders criticised the manner in which the bill was rushed through. They argued that a legislation with such wide-ranging implications should have been debated thoroughly. Some members demanded that the government respond to their concerns over the police crackdown before taking up legislative business.

The Speaker's decision to pass the bill without discussion drew sharp reactions. Several Opposition MPs were seen walking into the Well of the House, forcing brief adjournments before the final vote.

Other Business in Monsoon Session

The government had also listed the Supreme Court Judges (Amendment) Bill for consideration during the session. That bill was not taken up on Friday. The upcoming week may see it being introduced, though its fate remains uncertain given the continuing protests.

The adjournment till August 3 gives both sides time to regroup. The government hopes to push through pending legislative business in the remaining days of the session.

What happens next will depend on whether the Opposition agrees to allow proceedings to function. The police crackdown issue is likely to remain a flashpoint when Parliament reassembles.