Parliament Diary

For the third straight week, both Houses of Parliament witnessed repeated adjournments due to disruptions. In the second part of the 2023 Budget Session, Lok Sabha has not functioned for more than one hour on any day. Rajya Sabha functioned for more than one hour on only one day when it felicitated the winners of the Academy Awards. There have been a total of 12 sittings so far.

On Wednesday, Lok Sabha took up legislative business amidst disruptions.The Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was passed without discussion. The government moved several amendments to the Bill which were accepted. The Bill seeks to amend the Competition Act, 2002, to regulate mergers and acquisitions based on the value of transactions. The Bill was examined by the Standing Committee on Finance which had noted that the Bill should provide for the manner of calculation of transaction value.

[Summary of the Standing Committee Report on Competition Amendment Bill]

Also on Wednesday,the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 was introduced in Lok Sabha. One Member opposed the introduction of the Bill, stating that the House was not in order. However, this objection was overruled and the Bill was introduced. It was then referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee. The Bill seeks to amend the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, to exempt certain categories of lands from the purview of the Act, allowing strategic projects to be fast tracked. It also allows the central government to issue directions for the implementation of the law’s provisions.

Rajya Sabha returned the Finance Bill, 2023 and the four Appropriation Bills, passed by Lok Sabha last week, without discussion. No legislative business was taken up. 

Sittings of both Houses on Friday, March 31 were cancelled. Both Houses will now meet on Monday, April 3. The Budget Session of Parliament is scheduled to go on till April 6.