The winter session of the Parliament is headed for a stormy start. The BJP-led government has lined up a heavy legislative agenda for the session as it wants to make the most of the last full-fledged session of the Parliament before the 2024 polls. The next session will be the interim budget session in February.
Starting a day after the assembly polls results of four states will be declared—Mizoram votes will be counted on Monday the day the session starts—the outcome of the elections will be reflected in the manner in which the parties conduct their strategy in the House. There will be 15 sittings in this session of the Parliament.
The key highlight of the session will be the report of the Ethics Committee which looked into allegations of impropriety against the Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra. The report, which recommended Moitra’s expulsion, will be tabled in Lok Sabha on Monday. The TMC MP can be expelled from the Parliament only if the House votes in support of the recommendation of the committee.
The opposition is likely to seek discussion on the price rise, China conflict, Manipur crisis, and alleged misuse of agencies like ED and CBI. As this will last big opportunity for the Opposition to target the government on these key issues, the proceedings of the house are likely to be stormy. The government has assured that they were ready for a “structured” debate on key issues.
The government will seek to get the three bills on revamping the criminal justice system passed by both Houses as the standing committee reviewing the bills has already presented its reports. The reports will be tabled in both the Houses. Helmed by Home Minister Amit Shah the three bills will replace the IPC, Evidence Act, and the CrPc. This will be the most comprehensive review of these laws since their inception over a century ago. The opposition members have expressed concern over the manner it was pushing through with the bills.
There are 12 bills pending in the House, while seven new bills will be presented.
Among the bills pending and lined up for passing in the Parliament are:
1. The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023
2. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023
3. The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023
4. The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023
5. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
6. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
7. The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023
8. The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023
9. The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
10. The Post Office Bill, 2023
11. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023
New Bills
1. The Boilers Bill, 2023
2. The Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023
3. The Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023.
4. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2023
5. The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023
6. The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2023
7. The Central University (Amendment) Bill, 2023
