After failing to breach opposition ranks to secure support for a slew of controversial Bills, the Modi government on Monday decided against taking any chances.
On Tuesday, it will move motions to withdraw three Bills intended to replace ordinances from the Rajya Sabha — Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill and the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill. The intention is to bring the Bills first to the Lok Sabha, where the government enjoys a majority.
The government apparently intends to try the joint session route to convert the ordinances into Acts of Parliament. In order to hold a joint session to pass a Bill, the draft legislation must first be passed by one House and then rejected by the other. The government has the numbers to pass a Bill in the Lower House, and a defeat in the Upper House will allow it to call a joint session to pass it. However, the government’s move to withdraw the Bills will be opposed by the opposition, sources said. A Bill can be withdrawn only with the consent of the House.
The government clearly feels it cannot waste time as these ordinances have to be converted into law within six weeks of the start of the session.
