The 2020 Monsoon Session was scheduled to be held from 14th September to 1st October. But Parliament adjourned sine die today on account of COVID-19.
In Rajya Sabha, three Labour Codes were discussed and passed. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020, The Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020, and The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020 were also passed. These Bills have been passed in Lok Sabha as well in this session.
In his closing remarks, the Rajya Sabha Chairman said: “If legislative work is not taken up during the boycott by some sections of the House, it may legitimise such a boycott as an effective instrument of blocking legislation. To protest is the right of the Opposition, any Member for that matter. But the question is how it should be done.”
Lok Sabha started its sitting at 6PM. Before adjourning sine die, the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 was discussed and passed. The Joint Committee on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 has been given an extension until the second week of the Winter Session of the Parliament, 2020 for the presentation of its report.
Some highlights from our Vital Stats:
- Excluding two Appropriation Bills, 25 Bills were passed by Parliament in this session. 13 Bills were passed in Rajya Sabha in two days (yesterday and today).
- Of the 20 new Bills introduced in the Monsoon Session (not including the Appropriation Bills), 17 Bills were passed within the session. 11 of these replace Ordinances.
- No Bills were referred to Committees. In the 17th Lok Sabha so far, 10% of the introduced Bills have been referred to a Committee; much lower than 14th (60%), 15th (71%), and 16th (27%) Lok Sabhas.
- In the 17th Lok Sabha, the election for the post of Deputy Speaker has not been conducted even after 464 days from the commencement of the first session. This is the longest period in Lok Sabha without a Deputy Speaker.
You can also take a look at our Session Wrap and our Plan vs. Performance analysis of this session.