The curtains came down on the monsoon session of Parliament on August 10, with government managers claiming this to be one of the most productive ones for the Lok Sabha since 2000.
Provisional data released by the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry show the session had 17 sittings and the Lok Sabha conducted business for over 112 hours and passed 20 of the 21 Bills tabled by the government. Time lost due to interruptions was eight hours and 26 minutes, while the Lok Sabha sat an extra 20 hours and 43 minutes in the conduct of business.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar expressed his satisfaction over the way both Houses functioned.
“Despite being adjourned for a day to mourn the passing of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, the House functioned 20 hours more than the allotted time,” he said.
“One day was devoted to the discussion on the no-confidence motion and the government achieved a long-pending dream of passing the Bill for giving justice to the SC/ST brethren against atrocities and the OBC Bill,” he said.
Agencies add:
Speaker expresses happiness
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who adjourned the House sine die at the conclusion of monsoon session, expressed her happiness.
“I have several times laid stress on smooth conduct of the House which is essential to maintain the credibility of Parliament,” she said.
Ms. Mahajan said the government introduced 22 Bills and 21 were passed.
The significant legislation was on granting constitutional status to National Commission of Backward Classes. Another measure involved restoring the immediate arrest provision in the SC/ST Act.
Yet another Bill paved the way to enable the overseas electors to appoint proxies to cast their votes in the elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The other important bills passed by the House include the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Second Amendment) Bill, Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill and Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill.
The House also discussed the supplementary demands for grants (general) and demands for excess grants (general) for 2015-16 and the approved the relevant appropriation bills.
Seventy-five starred questions were replied in the House and replies of 285 others laid on the table of the House. Answers were also placed of 4,140 unstarred questions.
Members raised 534 issues of public importance and 326 matters were raised under Rule 377, under which an issue which is not a point of order is raised and requires a written notice by the member.
The House took up a short duration discussion on the situation in different parts of the country due to rains and drought.
“The House lost 8 hours and 26 minutes due to disruptions, but the members sat for 20 hours and 43 minutes beyond the scheduled time,” Ms. Mahajan said.
She said the session was more productive and satisfactory compared to the past two other productive sessions — the second part of Budget session 2017 and the last monsoon session.
The Speaker extended her good wishes for the Independence Day.
