While the Opposition in Rajya Sabha patted its back on Friday for being “good” and “supportive”, the fact remains that the House of Elders lagged behind in legislative business. So far, the lok Sabha has passed nine Bills while Rajya Sabha has six during the first two weeks of the Winter Session.
In Rajya Sabha, Bills that could not be taken up due to disruptions despite being scheduled included the Textiles Undertakings (Nationalisation) laws (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2014 to replace an Ordinance; the Constitution Scheduled Castes Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2014; the Central Universities Bill, 2014; and the School of Planning and Architecture Bill, 2014. These have already been passed by the lok Sabha during this session.
During the second week of Winter Session, the lok Sabha passed four Bills besides taking up another which remained inconclusive. In all, lok Sabha passed nine Bills during the first two weeks while Rajya Sabha could clear six.
last week, while lok Sabha took up the issue of floods and drought in different parts of the country for discussion but Rajya Sabha due to disruptions could not discuss the Prevailing Agrarian Crisis and the Statement of Government on WTO talks, besides Calling Attention Motion on the issue of naming of Shamshabad Airport.
Next week Government’s legislative proposals include The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2014 to replace an Ordinance, Payments and Settlements Systems (Amendment) Bill, 2014, Appropriation Acts (Repeal) Bill, 2014, Supplementary Demands for Grants and the related Appropriation Bills besides the Anti-hijacking Bill, 2010.
In fact, four Bills — The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill; The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill; The Textile Undertakings (Nationalisation) laws (Amendment and Validation) Bill and Protection and Utilisation of Public Funded Intellectual Property Bill, 2008 — have been listed in Rajya Sabha’s list of Business for Monday.