Govt optimistic on all bills but land

The government hopes to pass all bills that replace ordinances by the time Parliament adjourns, except the land bill. This optimism set in after Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley met floor leaders of parties this morning.

If the government is able to hold its timeline vis-a-vis the mines and coal bills, reports of select panels will be in within a week and the bills will be passed by March 20. “Even two days will do for consideration and passage,” a source said. They felt more than ensuring changes, the Opposition wanted to expose government’s vulnerability. That achieved, the Opposition, they hoped, may now let both bills pass. The Centre has lined up the insurance amendment bill for Rajya Sabha for tomorrow. While the Left remains against it, the Congress is not as firm, the UPA having brought in the original in 2008. A Congress source said, “We are not opposed as such. We are opposed to the way this government tried to bypass Parliament. This bill has already gone through a select committee.” The government may not call a joint sitting, for it would pave the way for another confrontation.

RS pendency not an LS roadblock: Kurien

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha deputy chairman P J Kurien ruled a bill can be introduced in Lok Sabha even if a previous bill on the same subject is pending approval or rejection in Rajya Sabha. Opposition MPs had, on March 3, asked for a ruling on this, protesting against the government move to introduce the insurance bill in Lok Sabha when a similar legislation was pending in Rajya Sabha. “After going through the provisions of the Constitution and Rules of Procedure relating to the conditions and procedure to be followed from the stage of introduction to passing of a bill in Rajya Sabha, I could not find any provision either in the Constitution or in the Rules, which prohibits the introduction, passing of a bill in the Lok Sabha substantially identical to a bill already pending in Rajya Sabha,” Kurien said.”…I, therefore, reiterate what I had said… neither this House nor the Chair has any jurisdiction over the functioning of the other House and vice versa.”(ENS)

Source:: Indian Express