Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 7 (IANS) The financial agenda of the government dominated the budget session of parliament which concluded Friday with 15 bills passed by both houses including a legislation to set up green courts in the country.
Nine of the 15 legislations related to the financial business of the government including the finance bill and railway appropriation bills.

The other bills passed include The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2010, the National Green Tribunal Bill, 2010, The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2010, the Employees State Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2010, the Plantations Labour (Amendment) Bill, 2010 and the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council Bill, 2010.

Briefing reporters about the budget session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told reporters here that the two houses had 32 sittings. While 70 hours were lost due to adjournments in the Lok Sabha, 45 hours were lost in the Rajya Sabha, he said.

The government introduced 27 bills in the Lok Sabha and 10 bills in the Rajya Sabha, and the lower house passed 20 bills while 16 bills were passed in the upper house.

Answering queries on the women’s reservation bill which was passed in the Rajya Sabha but could not be brought in the Lok Sabha, Bansal said that the government has to meet leaders of political parties for another round of consultations to sort out differences on the legislation.

Asked about instances of ruling party members causing disruptions, he said the members from treasury benches should not indulge in tactics that disrupt proceedings.

Denying that the government faced difficulties during the session, Bansal said that parties which had joined hands with the opposition on certain issues, had not withdrawn support to the ruling alliance.

Citing introduction of nuclear liability bill in the Lok Sabha as an instance of the success of floor management of the government, he said the opposition had moved away from its initial resolve to oppose the bill at the introduction stage and had staged a walk-out.

On the proposal to hike salaries of MPs, Bansal said the report has been submitted to the presiding officers of the two houses.

He said his ministry will take a call on the report and prepare a cabinet note after discussions with the finance and law ministries. He said there was demand for hike in salaries of MPs as salaries of government employees had risen substantially due to recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.

Asked about some bills having been passed without discussion, Bansal said the situation had been created due to proceedings of the houses being disrupted.

The budget session of Parliament, spread over two parts, began Feb 22 and ended May 7.

The two houses were in recess from March 17 to April 14 to enable the department- related standing committees to examine the demands for grants relating to various ministries.