NEW DELHI: In a modest improvement on sessions of Parliament since the winter of 2011, both Houses passed seven bills, including important legislations relating to economic reform and law enforcement.
Although the just concluded winter session was marred by disruptions and days were lost due to differences on FDI in multi-brand retail and the quota in promotions bill, Parliament managed to pass amendments to money laundering and unlawful activities laws.
Bills relating to pension and insurance reforms could not make it, but the finance minister had a silver lining by way of the amended banking laws and the security interest and debt recovery bill. Rajya Sabha functioning on Thursday saw the banking amendments being legislated.
However, there is not much to boast of beyond these bills as other business that was passed related to a constitutional amendment granting special status to Hyderabad-Karnataka and the north-east reorganization amendment bill. These were bills that received unanimous support. Passage of the supplementary grants was the other business.
Samajwadi Party's blockading of Lok Sabha over the quota in promotions bill put paid to the possibility of legislations like amendments to the motor vehicles Act and the land acquisition bill being considered.
According to PRS Legislative Research, Rajya Sabha functioned for 58% of its allotted time and Lok Sabha for 53%.
In Lok Sabha, the motion on FDI in retail was discussed for about 11 hours over two days. In Lok Sabha, three calling attentions were held on dengue and chikengunia, plight of coconut growers in Tamil Nadu and dilution of jute packaging material. In Rajya Sabha, one calling attention was held on the suspension of Indian Olympic Association by International Olympic Committee.
Eight bills introduced during the winter session remain pending. There were 102 bills pending before the start of the session and this number is now 104.
Parliament shows some improvement, passes seven bills
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Parliament shows some improvement, passes seven bills
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Parliament shows some improvement, passes seven bills
