The Lok Sabha was adjourned for an hour as soon as it assembled, and later for the day owing to protests and disruptions. In the Rajya Sabha, members paused their protests to allow the passage of the Payment of Gratuity Bill. As protests resumed, the House was also adjourned for the day.
Here are the live updates of the 14th day of the second leg of the Budget session.
Lok Sabha adjourned for the day
The Lok Sabha resumes. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan is in the Chair. Ministers and members lay papers on the table.
AIADMK members raise slogans despite the Speaker's objectiion.
The Speaker says she has received notice of no-confidence motion against the council of Ministers. She requests members to go back to the seat. The members refuse and the House is adjourned for the day.
Voting ends, protest begins
Once the Payment of Gratuity Bill is passed, AIADMK and TDP members troop into the well of the House with placards and raise slogans.
"People are asking me why are you adjourning the House. I say to them, I am adjourning the House because I don't want the nation to see these unruly scenes," says the Chair.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Goel requests the protesting members to go back to their seats. "One Bill was passed today. Please allow us to pass other important Bills. The government is ready for a discussion on all issues. You are discussing outside [the Parliament, in TV channels], why don't you discuss here" he asks.
Protests continue and the House is adjourned for the day.
Payment of Gratuity Bill
The Chairman request members to help the House run for the day. ''The Payment of Gratuity Bill is an important Bill. Let us take it up,'' he says.
Minister of State for Finance Santosh Kumar Gangwar moves the Bill and requests the House to pass it without discussion.
The Bill is taken up for voice vote on clause-by-clause amendments. Subbirami Reddy, who earlier sought an amendment, now says he doesn't want to move it. So the Bill, as passed by the Lok Sabha, is passed by the Rajya Sabha too.
What is the Bill about? The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 makes two key amendments the 1972 Act — enhance the maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, and remove the ceiling of gratuity available to employees. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session.
Mentions
The Chairman says he has received notices regarding Supreme Court's verdict on the SC/ST Act. ''I'll take a decision soon,'' he says.
A TDP member says the promises made to residuary Andhra at the time of bifurcation has not been met yet.
AIADMK's V. Maithreyan says on World Water Day, it is Cauvery Day for the Delta farmers of Tamil Nadu. Hence the government should set up a board as ordered by the Tribunal and upheld by the Supreme Court.
Rajya Sabha proceedings is on with Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu speaking on the occasion of World Water Day. "This year's theme is nature for water," he declares. ''This day also focusses on saving water — reduce, reuse and recycle, he says. I hope the House joins me in conserving water,'' he says. The House agrees by thumping the table.
Papers are being laid on the table.
The Chair praises senior parliamentarian Motilal Vora, who attends the proceedings regularly. "Youngsters should learn from him... how to work in a dignified manner," Mr. Naidu says.
The Lok Sabha, meanwhile has been adjourned.
Protests galore
Parliamentary proceedings have been marred by protests since the beginning of the session. Here is a gist of the happenings:
AIADMK MPs protest seeking establishment of Cauvery Management Board, on Thursday.
AIADMK: The AIADMK is the third largest party in the Lok Sabha. Its members, including the Deputy Speaker Thambi Durai, have been raising slogans asking the government to constitute a Cauvery management board.
TDP, YSRCP: Both Andhra Pradesh parties have been pressing for a Special Category Status for the State.
Shiv Sena: The Shiv Sena wants the government to grant classical language status to Marathi.
TRS: The Telangana party has two demands: bring farm labour under the rural employment guarantee Act and allow reservation for Muslims.
The Congress, Trinamool Congress and the Left parties have been seeking a iscussion on the PNB-Nirav Modi scam and other bank related frauds.
YSR Congress members protest demanding Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh, at Parliament House on Thursday.
The TDP and YSRCP have been trying to bring a no-confidence motion against the government since Friday, but protests have led to adjournment of Parliament without taking up any business, since the Houses assembled for the second phase of the Budget session.
