Parliament Diary

Today was another day of adjournments in Parliament where Members continued to demand a debate on the farmers' protest. Amidst the din, two Bills replacing Ordinances were passed:

• In Lok Sabha, the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed. The bill extended the validity of the 2011 Act for three years, till December 31, 2023. The bill was passed in Rajya Sabha in the first part of the 2021 Budget Session. 
   
• In Rajya Sabha, the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed. This Bill also replaces an Ordinance, and was passed in Lok Sabha in the first half of the Budget Session.

At the beginning of the Session, four Ordinances were in force. Three bills replacing ordinances have been passed. A bill to replace the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020 has not been introduced.

As per Article 123 of the Constitution, an Ordinance will expire at the end of six weeks from the reassembly of Parliament. This means, for an Ordinance to continue being in force, a bill replacing the Ordinance should be introduced and passed before the six weeks are up. This is the sixth week of the Budget Session. 

After both the Houses adjourned today, Parliament is scheduled to meet on Monday, March 15.