The Winter Session of Parliament had 14 sittings before it was adjourned sine die on 21st December 2023, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs informed on Friday. During the Session, 12 Bills were introduced in Lok Sabha and 18 Bills were passed by Lok Sabha while in the Rajya Sabha, 17 Bills were passed, putting the total bills passed in both Houses of the Parliament at 19. The Ministry also informed that 3 Bills were withdrawn with the leave of Lok Sabha while one Bill was withdrawn with the leave of Rajya Sabha.
The Parliament Session commenced on 4th December 2023 and all seemed well until on 13th December, two persons jumped from the visitors’ gallery inside the Lok Sabha chamber and opened canisters that expelled coloured gas. Subsequently, 146 Opposition MPs were suspended from both Houses for demanding a statement from the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and action against the BJP MP from Mysuru who issued the visitors’ passes to the intruders who were protesting unemployment, violence in Manipur and farmers’ troubles.
The Opposition alleged that the ruling party wanted to pass the Bills without objections and declared that the BJP has murdered democracy.
The Bills passed by both Houses included 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, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
Some of the major Bills passed by both Houses of Parliament during the Winter Session are as under:
– The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to repeal the Legal Practitioners Act, 1879 and incorporate the provisions of Section 36 of the Legal Practitioners Act 1879 in the Advocates Act, 1961.
– The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to change in nomenclature of ‘weak and under-privileged classes (social castes) to ‘Other Backward Classes’ in the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004.
– The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to provide nomination of not more than two members, one of whom shall be a woman from the community of Kashmiri Migrants and one member from Displaced person from Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
– The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023 provides for establishment of a Central Tribal University in Telangana.
– The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023 seeks to Repeal 76 redundant and obsolete laws.
– The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to extend the validity of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011 for a further period of three years from 01.01.2024 to 31.12.2026 thereby providing protection from punitive action to certain forms of unauthorised Developments in Delhi.
– The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 seeks to regulate the appointment, conditions of service and term of office of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, the procedure for transaction of business by the Election Commission and for matters connected therewith.
– The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 seeks to provide for press, registration of periodicals and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
– The Telecommunications Bill, 2023 seeks to amend and consolidate the laws relating to development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services and telecommunication networks; assignment of spectrum; and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
