New Delhi: Putting to rest speculation over the agenda of the special session of Parliament from 18 September, the Lok Sabha Secretariat Wednesday night issued a bulletin saying there will be a discussion on “Parliamentary journey of 75 years starting from ‘Samvidhan Sabha’ — achievements, experiences, memories and learnings” during the five-day session, besides other legislative business.
Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi’s message on social media platform X on 31 August that a special session of Parliament is being called from 18th to 22nd September having five sittings had set tongues wagging in political corridors. The Opposition has voiced concern about the government not making the agenda of the special session public amid speculations that it wants to push contentious laws like the ‘One nation, One election’ and the Uniform Civil Code during the session.
There were also reports in the media that the government might bring the women’s reservation bill.
What added to the speculation was Joshi’s cryptic post on social media on 31 August. A tweet by him said: “Amid Amrit Kaal, looking forward to have fruitful discussions and debate in Parliament”.
Instead, the legislative business listed by the Lok Sabha Secretariat has turned out to be a damp squib.
Apart from the discussion on the parliamentary journey of 75 years starting with the Constituent Assembly, the government has listed four bills — the contentious Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, and Post Office Bill, 2023 — to be taken up during the session.
Soon after Wednesday’s announcement, Opposition Congress claimed that the Narendra Modi government had “condescended” to announce the agenda for the special session after pressure from Sonia Gandhi.
In his post on X, Congress’s communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh said that the agenda as published at the moment was “much ado about nothing” and that the issues could have waited until Parliament’s Winter Session in November.
“I am sure the legislative grenades are being kept up their sleeves to be unleashed at the last moment as usual. Parde ke peeche kuch aur hai! Regardless, the INDIA parties will steadfastly oppose the insidious CEC Bill,” Ramesh said.
https://x.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1701991316794843486?s=20
Legislative business in special session
The most contentious among these are the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, which lays down the procedure for selection of chief election commissioner (CEC) and other election commissioners (ECs), and drops the Chief Justice of India from the panel that selected names for appointment of the top election commission officers.
Instead, giving more say to the central government, the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, mandates that the CEC and ECs shall be appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a Select Committee consisting of the PM — the chairperson — the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet minister to be nominated by the PM.
The bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha on 10 August — a day before the Monsoon Session concluded.
The Post Office Bill, 2023, related to the functioning of post offices, was introduced in Rajya Sabha on 10 August and will be taken up for discussion and passing.
The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, provides for the registration of periodicals, which include any publication containing public news or comments on public news but not books or scientific and academic journals. It was passed by Rajya Sabha on 3 August. It is pending in Lok Sabha and will be taken up for passing during the four day special session.
The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was passed in Rajya Sabha on 3 August , 2023 and will be taken up for passing in the Lok Sabha. The Bill repeals certain sections related to touts under the Legal Practitioners Act, 1879.
(This is an updated version of the report.)
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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