Brace for a volatile monsoon session of Parliament beginning on Monday. While crucial bills like the Food Security Bill have been lined up for debate in the 16 working days, the opposition is keen on cornering the government on issues such as the political victimisation of bureaucrats in the wake of IAS officer Durga Nagpal’s suspension, Chinese incursions in Ladakh, flash floods in Uttarakhand and the statehood to Telangana.
As forced adjournments washed out the last session, as many as 115 bills are awaiting parliamentary approval. Six bills need to be withdrawn while 14 are lined up for introduction. The government has indicated that it is likely to press the passage of 44 bills, including seeking approval for five ordinances — the most important being the national food security ordinance.
Since the current session will have only 16 working days, the business advisory committee of both Houses will meet on Monday to identify important legislative matters for consideration. As four Fridays are reserved for private member business, there will be 12 days of actual work in Parliament.
Finance minister P Chidambaram is keen on introducing the revised Direct Taxes Code and also seek the passage of key economic legislations, including the pension and insurance amendment bills. He had a discussion with BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Yashwant Sinha to seek their support for the financial bills.
There are 19 bills related to the ministry of finance alone awaiting discussion and passage. These include the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2011; the Companies Bill; the Competition (Amendment) Bill; the Public Procurement Bill, 2012; the Multi State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2010; the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2011.
Law minister Kapil Sibal has indicated that he will press for the passage of the National Judicial Commission Bill, which seeks to have a new criteria for appointing judges. This is significant in the wake of the recent Supreme Court orders, including the one on barring people in jail from contesting polls.
Apart from the food security ordinance, some other ordinances awaiting parliamentary nod are Securities Law Amendment Ordinance, 2013, which empowers Sebi to regulate Ponzi chit fund schemes, and the SEBI Amendment Ordinance, 2013.
Amid turbulence in Gorkhaland after the decision on Telangana, the Trinamool Congress has asked for an assurance from home minister Sushilkumar Shinde that no new state will be carved out, saying “India will burn” otherwise.
In the house
Govt to press passage of 44 bills but there are 115 still awaiting approval.
Some of the major bills include the Food Security Bill, those related to reforms in the insurance and pension sectors and an amendment to the RTI Act to keep political parties out of its ambit.
The opposition wants debates on Land Acquisition Bill, the state of the economy, corruption in the mid-day meal scheme, floods in Uttarakhand and Chinese intrusions in Ladakh among others.
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