Parliament Review: While Disruptions Continued, Some Progress on the Legislative Business in Second Week of Winter Session

• Sai Krishna Muthyanolla

The 3rd session of the 18th Lok Sabha began on 25 November 2024 and is expected to continue until 20 December 2024. Though disruptions continued in the second week of the winter session, some legislative business took place.

The third session of the 18^th  Lok Sabha commenced on 25 November 2024 and is set to continue until 20 December 2024 spanning 19 sittings. With five new bills on the agenda for introduction, consideration, and passage, alongside 11 pending bills awaiting discussion, the session promises a packed legislative calendar. However, the first week saw little progress as disruptions stalled proceedings in both houses.

As the second week concludes, we delve into the notable events and debates that shaped this week in Parliament.

Key Developments

On 2 December 2024, the sixth day of the session, the Lok Sabha witnessed the introduction of the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024. Aimed at consolidating and amending regulations for coastal shipping, the bill seeks to promote coasting trade and boost domestic participation in the sector. However, shortly after its introduction, proceedings were disrupted, forcing the house to adjourn.

Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, several action-taken reports from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution were tabled. Reflecting on the recurring disruptions, the Chairman invoked Murphy’s Law—”Anything that can go wrong will go wrong”—suggesting that these disturbances appear to be a deliberate effort to stall the house’s functioning.

On the seventh day of the session, the Lok Sabha engaged in a debate over the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which aims to enhance governance and strengthen investor protection in the banking sector. Key changes proposed include allowing bank account holders up to four nominees, extending the tenure of directors (excluding the chairman and whole-time directors) from 8 to 10 years, aligning with the Constitution (97th Amendment) Act, 2011, and revising regulatory reporting dates to the 15^th and last day of each month, replacing the second and fourth Fridays. However, some members raised concerns that the bill could pave the way for the privatization of the banking sector. Meanwhile, in the Upper House, the Oilfields Regulation and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was considered and passed.

On the eighth day of the session, the Lok Sabha debated the Railways (Amendment) Bill,2024, though the discussion remained inconclusive. In the Upper House, the Boilers Bill, 2024 was discussed and passed. The bill focuses on regulating boilers to ensure safety, protecting life and property from the risks associated with steam-boiler explosions, and promoting uniformity in the registration and inspection processes during the manufacture, erection, and operation of boilers across the country.

On the ninth day of the session, the Lok Sabha resumed its discussion on the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024, though the debate remained inconclusive. Additionally, the Boilers Bill, 2024, as passed by the Rajya Sabha, was laid on the Table of the House. Meanwhile, in the Upper House, the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill, 2024, which had been passed by the Lok Sabha on 9 August 2024, was considered, debated, and passed. This bill seeks to regulate and control the design, manufacture, maintenance, possession, use, operation, sale, export, and import of aircraft, along with other related matters.

On the tenth day of the session, proceedings in the Lok Sabha were disrupted and saw no significant developments. In the Upper House, an unusual incident drew attention when the Chairman announced that during a “routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber”, a bundle of cash was discovered on the seat of member Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The matter is under investigation. Further, a private member resolution on the pendency in the judiciary, and the resolutions to increase the number of judges were considered and discussed,

Important Standing Committee Reports

The second week of the session witnessed the tabling of several Action Taken Reports from previous committees were presented, reflecting the government’s responses to earlier recommendations. Some of the important reports tabled during this period are as follows:

• Report on Action taken by the Government on the Observations/Recommendations contained in Fifty-Ninth Report (17th Lok Sabha) on the subject ‘Cyber Security and Rising Incidence of Cyber/White Collar Crimes’
• Report on Action taken by the Government on the Observations/Recommendations contained in Sixty Sixth Report (17th Lok Sabha) on the subject ‘Performance Review and Regulation of Insurance Sector’
• Action taken by the Government on the observations/recommendations contained in the Twenty Eighth Report of the Committee on External Affairs on the subject ‘Countering Global Terrorism at Regional and International Levels’
• Action Taken by the Government on the observations/recommendations contained in the Twenty Sixth Report of the Committee on External Affairs (17th Lok Sabha) on the subject ‘India and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Contours of Cooperation’
• Action Taken by the Government on the observations/recommendations contained in the Twenty Seventh Report on the subject ‘India’s Engagement with G20 Countries’
• Action Taken by the Government on the Observations/ Recommendations contained in the Thirty Eighth Report of the Committee (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on the subject ‘Functioning of Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA)’ pertaining to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Food and Public Distribution)

Some Important Parliament Questions

• On the question of impact of climate change on Agriculture, the Ministry responded that Risk and vulnerability assessment of agriculture to climate change has been carried out at district level for 651 predominantly agricultural districts as per Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) protocols. Out of 310 districts identified as vulnerable, 109 districts have been categorized as ‘very high’ and 201 districts as ‘highly’ vulnerable. District Agriculture Contingency Plans (DACPs) for these 651 districts have also been prepared to address weather aberrations and recommending location-specific climate resilient crops and varieties and management practices for use by the State Departments of Agriculture.
• On the number of vacancies filled through lateral entry by Government, the Ministry responded that in 2019, 8 vacancies were filled, followed by 30 in 2021, and 25 in 2023.
• On the attacks on Indian students abroad, the Government responded that between January 2019 to October 2024, 58 attacks took place against Indian students, out of which 20 deaths happened. Canada topped with 9 deaths, followed by USA at 7 deaths.
• On the question of Shell Companies in India, the Ministry responded that there is no definition of the term “shell company” in the Companies Act. However, the Registrar of Companies can strike off under Section 248 (1) of the Companies Act, 2013. The total number of companies struck off during 2019-20 is 59995, followed by 12706, 62275, 82125 and 16465 in the subsequent years.
• On the question of senior citizens who have taken health insurance coverage of Rs. 5 Lakh, the Ministry responded that the number rose from 2.86 Lakh in 2019-20 to 9.03 Lakh in 2023-24 as per the information furnished by the Insurance Information Bureau of India (IIB).

Some important Matters raised under Rule 377

• Prof. Sougata Ray regarding ethnic violence in Manipur
• P. P. Chaudhary regarding the need for integration of Artificial Intelligence in governance.
• Anurag Sharma regarding the need to extend the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme to the tenant farmers.
• Dr. Bachhav Shobha Dinesh regarding the need to ensure fair and transparent conduct of Private Health Insurance Companies in the disposal of claims.
• Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde regarding transparency in the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
• Asit Kumar Mal regarding prices of life-saving medicines.
• Madan Rathore raised a matter regarding the need to address the problem of drug addiction among children.
• Naresh Bansal raised a matter regarding the demand for censorship on Over The Top (OTT) platforms.