The Government is working on the possibility of extending the first part of the Budget Session to finish important legislative business — the Mines and Minerals Development & Regulation Bill and the Coal (Special Provisions) Bill — and then proroguing the Session ahead of the schedule. “No final decision has been taken on the issue of proroguing the Session,” said a senior Minister. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs will meet on Wednesday to decide on this issue.
The land Acquisition Bill, which has been passed by the lok Sabha, is unlikely to get through the Rajya Sabha, where the Government is in minority. The Ordinance will lapse on April 6 and cannot be re-promulgated if Parliament is in Session. The Government can re-issue the Ordinance by proroguing the Budget Session. Ordinarily, the Budget Session is conducted in two halves, separated by a month recess. The first part is scheduled to end on March 20, and the second is scheduled to begin on April 20 and continue till May 10.
The Government would also be moving to pass amended versions of the coal and mines Bills. The select committees, given a deadline of March 18, have already examined the bills and adopted them. If the Government accepts the recommendations of the select committees and make changes in the two bills, they will have to be sent to the lok Sabha again for passage before they are brought before the Rajya Sabha. These things will require time because only three days remain for the first half of the Budget Session to end as per the schedule. Out of this, Friday is for private members’ day.