Parliament Review: Security Scare & Intruders in Lok Sabha Dominate Proceedings in Second Week of Winter Session - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 15, 2023
The second week of the winter session of parliament was dominated by the major security scare where intruders jumped from the Visitor’s Gallery of the Lok Sabha and alleged to have sprayed something like a tear gas. The Delhi Police and Lok Sabha Secretariat are said to be investigating the security lapse. Multiple other bills were discussed and passed.
The last full-fledged session of the 17 Lok Sabha began last week on 04 December 2023 and is expected to conclude on 22 December 2023. This Winter Session is packed with a hefty lineup of legislative plans across 15 sittings spread over a period of 19 days. They aim at revamp of archaic colonial laws and also establish a structured system for appointing election commissioners. Among the anticipated bills up for debate are the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023.
The second week of the session saw a huge security scare, with intruders entering the chambers. The intruders threw something that emitted fluorescent gas and were apprehended by the parliamentarians. The Delhi Police and Lok Sabha Secretariat are said to be investigating the security lapse.
In addition to this, some important discussions and debates happened during this week, with some key bills getting passed in Parliament.
Key developments
During the last week, the Post Office bill 2023, and the Advocates (Amendment) Bill 2023 were passed by Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively. In continuation of the debate from last week, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill 2023 were passed by both houses. Interestingly, these bills were passed on the same day on which the constitutional validity of the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article was upheld by the Supreme Court.
The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which allowed for the setting up of a tribal university in Telangana, by the name ‘Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University’ was passed by both houses of the Parliament. A short-notice discussion was held in Rajya Sabha on the economic situation of India, focussing on poverty, unemployment, and hunger.
The fifth day of the house saw a huge uproar over the report of the Ethics Committee on a ‘cash for query’ against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra. The Lower House of the Parliament expelled her through voice vote.
Further, Home Minister Amit Shah withdrew three bills that aimed to amend criminal laws. He presented revised versions of these bills: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Sakshya (BS), and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Lok Sabha saw a passage of few other bills: it approved the Supplementary Demands for Grants – First Batch for 2023-2024 and also passed payments from the consolidated fund, Demands for Excess Grants for 2020-2021; it passed the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023. The Finance Minister introduced the Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023, and the Central Goods and Services Act (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha.
In a significant development, the Rajya Sabha passed the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023. This bill aims to standardize how the chief election commissioner (CEC) and other election commissioners are appointed, their service conditions, and their duration in office. It also suggests establishing a selection panel with the Prime Minister as chair, the Leader of the Opposition as a member, and a Union Cabinet Minister appointed by the Prime Minister as another member for appointing the CEC and other ECs. Earlier, the apex court ruled that the selection panel should consist of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India. But such an arrangement was valid only till the parliament enacted a law. Despite the government’s assertion that the bill aligns with the apex court’s ruling, the opposition views it as a blow to the autonomy of the election commission. The opposition’s attempt to refer the bill to a select committee was declined.
Important Standing Committee reports
The second week of the session also saw the presentation of action-taken reports of various ministries/departments. Some of the important reports are as below.
Some interesting Parliamentary questions
Matters raised under Rule 377
Some of the important matters raised by members under Rule 377 are as below.