Parliament adjourned sine die on Thursday, one day ahead of the scheduled conclusion of the contentious winter session. The session, marked by a major security breach, suspension of 146 MPs, breakdown of communication between the government and opposition, and the expulsion of TMC leader Mahua Moitra, came to a close. On the last day, three more Opposition MPs were suspended from Lok Sabha for unruly behavior, bringing the total number of suspensions to a record 146 since December 14. The suspended MPs include Congress’s Deepak Baij, DK Suresh, and Nakul Nath.
With a majority of opposition MPs absent, the Lower House passed the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 by a voice vote after a brief discussion. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal responded to the debate, stating that the 1991 Act on the service conditions of the CEC and ECs was incomplete, and the present Bill addresses those gaps. Opposition parties raised concerns, arguing that the proposed law contradicted Supreme Court directions, which had called for the Centre to establish a law on appointments of the CEC and ECs. The minister clarified that until a law is enacted, a three-member panel consisting of the PM, the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India would select the CEC and ECs, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directive in March of the current year. The Lok Sabha also passed key bills to replace colonial-era laws such as the Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act, Code of Criminal Procedure, Telegraph Act, and Press and Registration of Books Act. These bills were passed by voice vote with almost empty opposition benches in the House. The Winter session was the first full-fledged session held in the new Parliament building.
Post Your Comments