The Monsoon session which started on July 18, witnessed a dramatic no-confidence motion moved by TDP in the beginning, ended with less hubbub and became the “most productive” monsoon session for 18 years on Friday, reported PRS Legislative Research.
In total 17 sittings, 20 out of 21 Bills were passed in the Parliament, reported The Indian Express.
According to PRS Legislative Research, the monsoon session witnessed productivity of Lok Sabha at 118 percent, while that of Rajya Sabha at 74 percent.
In a statement issued by the Ministry, 22 bills were introduced, 21 in the Lower House and one in the Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha passed 21 Bills and the Rajya Sabha passed 14 Bills during the monsoon session. 20 bills were passed by both the Houses of the Parliament.
The Lok Sabha spent 50% and the Rajya Sabha spent 48% of their time on legislative business, said the PRS Legislative Research. The report said that the time spent, is the highest contributed by the Houses in the 16th Lok Sabha and second highest since 2004. The session also had one of the most productive Question Hours of the 16th Lok Sabha, the report added.
In the Modi rule, the highest number of government bills were introduced by the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Hindustan Times reported.
A key highlight of the session apart from the no-confidence motion was the election of the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha where JD(U)’s first-time Parliamentarian Harivansh Narayan Singh was elected for the post on August 9.
Lok Sabha Speaker after adjourning the house sine die said, “I have several times laid stress on the conduct of the House which is essential to maintain the credibility of Parliament.” She added, “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.”
While Triple Talaq bill was deferred in the Rajya Sabha for the next session, these major bills got passed in the Parliament–
The Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017 which gives the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) constitutional status.
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018 which increases the minimum punishment for rape of women from seven to 10 years and has introduced the death penalty as punishment for raping of girls below 12 years.
The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2018 which restores the immediate arrest of offenders committing atrocities against the SC/STs. A preliminary inquiry will not be necessary before filing an FIR.
The other important bills passed in the Parliament this Monsoon session were Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Second Amendment) 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, reported The Hindu.