The new Parliament building
New Delhi: The Interim Budget Session, 2024 of Parliament, which commenced on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, was adjourned sine die today. The session provided nine sittings spread over 11 days. It was extended by a day to transact essential government business. The productivity of the Lok Sabha was approximately 148% and that of the Rajya Sabha was 137% in this session.
During this session, a total of 10 Bills (seven in Lok Sabha and three in Rajya Sabha) were introduced. 12 Bills were passed by Lok Sabha and 12 Bills were passed/returned by Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi informed in a press conference today.
The total number of Bills passed/returned by both Houses of Parliament was also 12.
This being the first session of the year, the President addressed both Houses of Parliament assembled together in terms of Article 87(1) of the Constitution, on January 31, 2024. The motion of thanks on the President’s address in Lok Sabha was moved by Dr. Heena Vijaykumar Gavit and seconded by Professor SP Singh Baghel. This item engaged the Lok Sabha for 15 hours 28 minutes against the allotted 12 hours. In Rajya Sabha, it was moved by Kavita Patidar and seconded by Vivek Thakur and the item engaged the House for 15 hours and 7 minutes against the allotted 14 hours. The motions of thanks were discussed and adopted after the reply from the Prime Minister by the two Houses. 117 Members in Lok Sabha and 57 Members in Rajya Sabha participated in the discussion on the subject.
The Interim Union Budget for 2024- 25 was presented on Thursday, February 1, 2024. General discussions on the Interim Union Budget and Interim Budget of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for 2024-25 were held in both Houses. Demands for Grants on Account for 2024-25, Supplementary Demands for Grants – Second Batch for 2023-24, Demands for Grants on Account of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for 2024-25, Supplementary Demands for Grants of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the financial year 2023-24 were voted in full and the related Appropriation Bills were introduced, considered and passed by Lok Sabha on February 7, 2024. The Finance Bill, 2024, was passed by Lok Sabha on the same day. This business on the interim budget engaged the Lok Sabha for 10 Hours and 18 minutes in which 88 members participated.
In Rajya Sabha, a general discussion on the Interim Union Budget and Interim Budget for Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was held on February 7, 2024. The Rajya Sabha returned the Appropriation Bills related to Demands for Grants on Account for 2024-25, Supplementary Demands for Grants – Second Batch for 2023-24, Demands for Grants on Account of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for 2024-25, Supplementary Demands for Grants of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the financial year 2023-24 on February 8, 2024, to the Lok Sabha without any recommendations. The Finance Bill, 2024 was also returned by Rajya Sabha on the same day. This business engaged the Rajya Sabha for 6 Hours 40 minutes in which 31 members participated.
In Lok Sabha on February 9, 2024, a discussion was held under Rule 342 on a motion given by Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance on “White Paper on the Indian Economy and its impact on lives of the people of India”. The discussion engaged the Lok Sabha for 7 hours and 25 minutes. In Rajya Sabha, the discussion on the subject was held under Rule 176 engaging the House for 3 hours and 50 minutes.
Joshi also elaborated upon the salient features of work done during the term of the 17th Lok Sabha.
The Lok Sabha had 274 sittings in which 202 Bills were introduced and 222 bills were passed. Rajya Sabha had 271 sittings, in which 31 Bills were introduced and 220 bills were passed. In total 221 Bills were passed by both the Houses and became Acts.The first session of the 17th Lok Sabha was historic in many ways as legislations relating to almost all walks of socio and economic activities were passed, Joshi said. 30 Bills were passed by both Houses of Parliament in that session which is a record in the single first/effective session after the constitution of the new Lok Sabha so far.
During the 17th Lok Sabha, one of the most important business transacted was the abrogation of certain provisions from Article 370 and Presidential Orders thereunder for ensuring equal opportunities to all sections of Society in Jammu & Kashmir particularly with the restoration of applicability of the provisions of the Constitution of India and all socio-economic legislations thereby ensuring rule of law and equity. Further to ensure better administration and for curbing terrorism, the State of Jammu & Kashmir was reorganized with the formation of two Union Territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
To meet Constitutional requirements of Article 85 and for transacting essential legislative and other Business, the Monsoon Session, 2020 and the first part of Budget Session, 2021 and Budget Session, 2022 were held during the COVID-19 pandemic by making extraordinary arrangements, including seating and logistics, following all guidelines of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Home Affairs.
The criminal justice system is now history. Now, justice takes precedence over punishment. The nation has got a new Nyaya Sanita based on the principle of ‘Justice First’. For this purpose, three landmark Bills relating to the criminal justice system to ensure victim-centric justice namely the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 replacing the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 were passed by both the Houses of Parliament.
A special function was held in the Central Hall of Parliament on November 26, 2019, for members of both Houses of Parliament to commemorate the 70 years of adoption of the Constitution. The President of India in the presence of the Vice President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Members of both Houses of Parliament attended the function.
In September 2023, the new Parliament building was dedicated to the nation. A special session of Parliament was convened which commenced on September 18, 2023, in the Old Parliament Building wherein a discussion on ‘Parliamentary Journey of 75 Years Starting from Samvidhan Sabha – Achievements, Experiences, Memories and Learnings’ was held in both the Houses. The Prime Minister and other dignitaries addressed Members of Parliament assembled in the Central Hall on September 19, 2023 and thereafter, the respective Houses started their proceedings in the New Parliament Building, rechristened as SANSAD BHAVAN while Old Parliament House including Central Hall has been given the name of ‘Samvidhan Sadan’.
A special session of Parliament held during September 2023 witnessed a historical moment when Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 i.e. the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 for giving one-third reservation to women in Lok Sabha and State/Union Territory Legislatures to enable greater participation of women as public representatives in policy making at the National and State levels was passed. The voting pattern in Lok Sabha remained with 454 voting in favour and only 2 Members voting against it. In Rajya Sabha, it was passed unanimously.
During this period, following the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi under ‘Digital India Programme’, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is fast implementing the “National e-Vidhan Application- NeVA” to make all legislatures paperless. Prime Minister made clarion call to all the presiding officers on November 26, 2020, from Kevadia during the 80th Presiding Officers’ Conference for early adoption of NeVA. This call was renewed by the then President of India on January 31, 2021, during his address to both the Houses of Parliament. So far 22 State Legislatures have signed MoUs while projects of 19 Houses have already been approved and by the time NeVA has gone live in 12 State Legislatures. Concerted efforts are being made for its early implementation in the rest of the Legislatures including two Houses of Parliament.
The present government has also created a record by scrapping a total of 1562 ‘old and redundant’ Laws so far since 2014.
– global bihari bureau
