The first day of the historic 250th session of Rajya Sabha saw a visible change with marshals standing beside the seat of the Chairman in the House wearing a military-style uniform.
IMAGE: Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu flanked by Upper-House marshals in their new dress during the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament. The marshals in their old dress. Photograph: PTI Photo
It was a marked change from the earlier uniform in which they wore a bandhgala and a safa.
The marshals wore a blue uniform with a military-style peak cap and stripes on shoulders. In summers, the marshals are likely to wear white uniforms which have a resemblance to the uniform of the Indian Navy.
Four marshals are always on duty among the pool of marshals when the House is in session.
Former army chief General V P Malik disagreed with the changes and expressed his views in a tweet.
“Copying and wearing of military uniforms by non-military personnel is illegal and a security hazard,” he said and hoped that early action will be taken in the matter.