Parliament security breach: The rules MPs should follow before issuing visitor passes

Among the duo — Manoranjan D and Sagar Sharma — who jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour on Wednesday to release yellow smoke from canisters, one had entered the visitor's gallery with passes issued by the office of Mysuru Lok Sabha BJP MP Pratap Simha.Here's what we know about the guidelines for MPs who issue such passes.What the rules say about issuing visitor passes Visitors such as academics, students, and members of the general public are frequently admitted in the Parliament. They ask for MPs for passes so they can observe how laws are made.According to the Lok Sabha handbook for members, all MPs requesting visitor passes must give a declaration that they know the guest personally and take full responsibility for him or her.In the application form submitted by MPs for visitors, they need to provide details such as visitor's name in full, age, father's or husband's name, nationality and passport number (for foreigners only) and details of occupation, among other things.Details of occupation of the husband (in the case of housewives only), full permanent address and state, and full Delhi address are also required.Also Read: Recce of Parliament, 11 months of planning: How 6 accused executed security breachAccording to the handbook, the members have to provide a certificate on the application form for the visitor card stating, "The above-named visitor is my relation/personal friend/known to me personally and I take full responsibility for her/him."Visitors' cards for the public gallery are issued for the guests of Lok Sabha members on the day before the visit on applications from members on yellow forms available in the Centralised Pass Issue Cell.The application for visitors' card should contain the name of not more than four guests of a member and the application should reach the Centralised Pass Issue Cell not later than 4 pm on the working day before the date for which the card is required.Also Read: Who are the people behind the Lok Sabha breach?"Not more than four visitors' cards will be issued to a member for a particular day for fixed hour(s) and complete particulars of the visitors may be furnished in the application forms for issue of visitors' cards, failing which the visitors' cards may not be issued," the handbook states.Visitors' cards on same-day applications from members on red forms available in the Centralised Pass Issue Cell are issued subject to observance of certain conditions.[caption id="attachment_13502302" align="alignnone" width="640"]

Manoranjan and Sagar Sharma, who breached Lok Sabha, had passes from Mysuru MP Pratap Simha. PTI[/caption]The applications for same-day visitors' cards should be made to the secretary general as early as possible on the date for which they are required and such applications should be delivered at the Centralised Pass Issue Cell."For getting same-day passes issued, the Deputy Leader or the Whip of the Party, whosoever is authorised by the Party, should recommend the issue of same-day passes on the application form," the handbook says.The member is also required to take the visitor to the concerned joint secretary or additional secretary for the purpose, it states.When a member requires a same-day visitors' pass, he may have his guests seated in the Reception Office or the MP Waiting Room Centralised Pass Issue Cell.Same-day visitors' cards are delivered to the member, who is required to sign the register maintained for this purpose.Two persons jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow smoke from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by MPs. Around the same time, a man and a woman also sprayed coloured smoke from canisters while shouting the slogan "tanashahi nahi chalegi" outside the Parliament premises.All four have been detained by security forces.Two persons involved in the incident have been identified as Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D Sharma and Manoranjan had come to the visitor's gallery as guests of Mysuru Lok Sabha member Prathap Simha.Manoranjan D had been pursuing Simha and his office for the pass for over three months, sources said.Facing flak, Simha's office defended him, saying MPs generally entertain such requests from members of their constituency.With inputs from PTI