<span style="color: #222222;">Rajya Sabha Secretariat is learnt to have replied to the letter of the Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge saying that the meetings of the Committees can be considered shortly once the situation improves for better. Mr Kharge had requested the Rajya Sabha Chairman for convening virtual meetings of the Parliamentary Committees.<br />''<br />''In its reply the Secretariat is understood to have said that the issue of confidentiality can be resolved during the Parliament Session as any amendment to the Rules can be approved by the respective Houses only after the matter is considered by the Rules Committees. In a similar situation during the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic, the Rajya Sabha Chairman and Lok Sabha Speaker  had decided in a meeting that the matter regarding holding of virtual meetings of the Parliamentary Committees as per existing provisions and confidentiality of the proceedings of the Committees may be referred to the Committee on Rules in both the Houses. As physical meetings of the Committees were being held regularly following the guidelines strictly , the matter rested there and the situation had not arisen for consideration of the matter by the Rules Committees in both the Houses.</span><br />