Amid speculation that the National Democratic Alliance might take the ordinance route for the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2008, that has been listed in the legislative business of the Rajya Sabha but not taken up, the government has decided to take a call on Tuesday at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs. The last day of the winter session on Tuesday will coincide with the outcome of the Assembly elections in Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir.
Giving the example of the United Progressive Alliance taking the ordinance route for the National Food Security Bill and the controversial Bill to negate the Supreme Court verdict on convicted lawmakers, a senior Minister said “the Congress, which has ruled and ruined the country for 60 years, has set precedents for every kind of situation.”
Although Opposition members said there was “no chance” of them allowing the Insurance Bill to be taken up, the government is still hopeful that the Bill may come up. The government action will be incumbent on the result of the Assembly elections in Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir. The Insurance Bill seeks to raise the FDI cap in the sector to 49 per cent.
A senior Samajwadi Party leader said the Opposition had agreed not to block the National Capital Territories of Delhi Law (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2014 regarding ceiling on some properties in Delhi. The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2008, which has been opposed in the Select Committee of Rajya Sabha by four parties, has been listed in the Rajya Sabha for almost two weeks now. It will come up on the last day of the winter session on Tuesday but may not be taken up as Opposition is adamant.
While D. Raja (CPI) and others have moved a statutory resolution opposing the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2014 promulgated by the President on October 21, the government hopes the House will pass the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2014 that replaces the ordinance. The Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha but is stuck in the Upper House. The Opposition strategy will be to send the Bill to the House Select Committee.
The government proposes to bring the Payment and Settlement Systems (Amendment) Bill, 2014 to amend the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, and the Repealing and Amending (Second) Bill, 2014, which is a periodic measure for updating list of laws in force. In all, the second Bill seeks to repeal 90 laws and pass amendments to two laws.
Both the Bills have been passed by the Lok Sabha and have already been introduced in the Rajya Sabha. However, the Opposition will not allow the two pieces of legislation to be passed in the din and they are likely to be referred to the Rajya Sabha Select Committee.
