Monsoon session end; speaker concerned over disruptions
Our parliamentary correspondent
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has expressed concern over disruptions in the House. Describing the trend as alarming, Mrs Kumar said that if this is not checked, it would lead to unforeseen consequences.
In her valedictory remarks on the conclusion of fifth session of fifteenth lok sabha, the speaker said that forty five hours of house were lost because interruptions and forced adjournments.
She said that Political parties and individuals should seriously ponder over the irreparable damage being done to Parliamentary democracy by such disruptions. She called upon the MPs to preserve the sanctity of Parliament. “Let informed debates and discussions take place inside the Chamber at all time instead of slogans and mock discussions” she said.
Giving detail of the session she that there had been 26 sittings spread over 135 hours. The Session saw the disposal of important Financial, Legislative and other Business. Discussion on Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for 2010-11 lasted for 3 hours and 27 minutes before the demands were voted and the related Appropriation Bill was passed.
During the Session, 18 Bills were introduced and 20 Bills were passed. Some of the important Bills passed were the Securities and Insurance Laws (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2010; the State Bank of India (Amendment) Bill, 2010; the Industrial Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2010; the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2010; the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2010; the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2010; the Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010; the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2010; the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010; the Educational Tribunals Bill, 2010; the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill, 2010; Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2010; and Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2010.
During the session, 460 starred questions were listed, out of which 46 Questions could be answered orally. Thus, on an average, about 1.91 Questions could be answered per day. Written replies to the remaining Starred Questions alongwith 5283 Unstarred questions were laid on the Table. Unfortunately, the Question Hour was disrupted on 11 days and Questions listed on those days could not be answered by the Ministers concerned orally.
About 314 matters of urgent public importance were raised by the members after the Question Hour and by sitting late in the evening. Hon. Members also raised 276 matters under rule 377. The Standing Committees presented 45 Reports to the House.
The House also held six short duration discussions under rule 193 on the subjects of urgent public importance. Out of the six discussions, discussion concluded on the four discussion, namely, (i) the situation arising out of delay in preparation for commonwealth Games, 2010; (ii) on Bhopal Gas Tragedy; (iii) Flood and drought situation in the Country; and (iv) situation arising out of increasing atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Country. Two short duration discussions on the (i) illegal mining in various States; and (ii) on the statement made by the Minister of Home Affairs in the House on 4 August, 2010 regarding the situation in Jammu and Kashmir remained part-discussed.
The House also held discussions on two motions on important subjects namely (i) inflationary pressure on the economy and its adverse impact on the common man; and (ii) on the issues of Population Stabilization in the Country.
As many as 57 statements were made by the Ministers on various other important subjects and four statements were made by Hon’ble Minister of Parliamentary Affairs on Government Business.
Also 24 Private Members’ Bills were introduced during the Session. Discussion on a Bill, the Compulsory Voting Bill, 2009 seeking to provide for compulsory voting in elections to the House of the People or Legislative Assemblies by every eligble citizen of the country, which had remained part-discussed during the last session, was further discussed on 13 August, 2010 and was withdrawn by leave of the House by Shri J.P. Agarwal, the member-in-charge of the Bill. Another Bill, namely, the Child Welfare Bill, 2009 seeking to provide for various measures for welfare of children moved by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on 13 August, 2010 remained part-discussed.
Discussion on Private Members’ Resolution regarding identification of families living below poverty line and welfare measures for them moved by Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh on 21 April, 2010 during last session continued on 6 and 21 August, 2010. The resolution was withdrawn by Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singh on 21 August, 2010. Another resolution regarding special status to the State of Bihar, moved by Dr. Bhola Singh on 21 August, 2010, remained part-discussed.