PRESS RELEASE

 

         

The Budget Session, 2004 of Parliament which commenced on Monday, 5^th July, 2004 concluded on the 26^th of August, 2004. The Budget Session was originally scheduled to conclude on 3^rd of September, 2004.  However, due to the impasse created by the Opposition on various issues, it was mutually agreed between the Opposition and the Government to adjourn both Houses  sine–die on 26 August, 2004, after completing the essential financial business.

 

2.                The Session was held in two parts – first part of the Session was held from 5 July 2004 to 23 July, 2004 and the second part of the Session from 16 August, 2004 to 26 August, 2004.  The Houses were in recess from 24 July, 2004 to 15 August, 2004 to enable the Department related Standing Committees to examine the Demands for Grants relating to various Ministries/Departments and make their reports to the Houses.  The Session yielded a total of 24 sittings – 15 sittings during the first part and 9 sittings during the second part.

 

3.                During the Session, Shri K. Rahman Khan was unanimously elected as Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha on 22 July, 2004.

 

4.                The Session was mainly devoted to transaction of Financial Business relating to Railways and General Budgets for 2004-05.  During the first part of the Session, the Railway Budget for 2004-05 was presented to Parliament on Tuesday, 6 July, 2004, the Economic Survey of the Government was presented on Wednesday, 7 July, 2004 and the General Budget for 2004-05 was presented on Thursday, 8 July, 2004.  General discussions on the Railways and General Budgets were held in both the Houses.  The Lok Sabha also discussed and voted the Demands for Grants on Accounts relating to Railways and General Budgets and considered and passed the Appropriation Bills relating thereto during this period.  These Appropriation Bills were considered and returned by the Rajya Sabha.  The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha also passed a Resolution regarding constitution of the Railway Convention Committee.

 

5.                During the Second part of the Session, Demands for Grants relating to the Railway and General Budgets were voted and the related Appropriation Bills were passed by the Lok Sabha and subsequently returned by the Rajya Sabha. The  two Houses also passed the Finance (No.2) Bill, 2004 without discussion.

 

6.                In the Lok Sabha, five Short Duration Discussions under Rule 193 –two during  first part and  three during second part of the Session - were held on (i) situation in Iraq, (ii) removal of Governors of four States on the basis of their ideologies, (iii) flood and drought situation in the country,  (iv) shortage of power in the country, and (v) problems being faced Jute industry (discussed inconclusively).  In the Rajya Sabha, two Short Duration Discussions under Rule 176 were held during second part of the Session on (i) flood situation in the country, and (ii) changes in the  school text books by the Central Government. In addition, Members of the Rajya Sabha were afforded opportunity to seek clarifications from the Minister of Home Affairs on the issue of Law and Order situation in Manipur and on the incident of bomb blast in Dhemaji district of Assam.

 

7.                A statement showing the Facts at Glance in respect of Business transacted during the  Budget Session, 2004 vis-a-vis the Budget Sessions held during the last four years is  annexed.

 

8.                Statements indicating (i) Bills which could not be introduced during the Budget Session due to adjournment/disruption of the proceedings and (ii) Discussions which could not be taken up due to disruption of proceedings of the Houses are also annexed.

 

 

FACTS  AT GLANCE – BUDGET SESSION, 2004 VIS-A-VIS BUDGET SESSIONS HELD DURING 2000-2004

 

 Second Session of Fourteenth Lok Sabha and 202^nd Session of Rajya Sabha

(FROM: 05-07-2004 TO 26-08-2004)

 

  

* In addition, Joint sitting of both the Houses was held on 26.3.2002 to consider and pass the Prevention of Terrorism Bill, 2002 as passed by Lok Sabha and rejected by the Rajya Sabha on 21.3.2002.

 

   

BILLS WHICH COULD NOT BE INTRODUCED DURING THE BUDGET SESSION DUE TO ADJOURNMENT/DISRUPTION OF THE PROCEEDINGS

 

I – Bills whose  proofs and notices for introduction had been received

 

1. The Prevention of Terrorism (Repeal) Bill, 2004
2. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2004

 

II – Bills approved by the Cabinet

 

1.      The Coastal Aquaculture  Authority Bill, 2004

2. The Displaced Persons (Compensation and Rehabilitation) Repeal Bill, 2004
3. The State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Bill, 2004
4. The Representation of People (Amendment) Bill, 2004
5. The Government Securities Bill, 2004
6. The Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Bill, 2004
7. The Seeds Bill, 2004
8. The Banking Regulations (Amendment) Bill, 2004
9. The Securities Contracts Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2004

 

DISCUSSIONS WHICH COULD NOT BE TAKEN UP DUE TO DISRUPTION OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSES

 

LOK SABHA

(First Part )

SHORT DURATION DISCUSSIONS

 

Internal Security in the Country.

 

(Second Part)

I -SHORT DURATION DISCUSSIONS

 

1.      Problems being faced by Jute Industries (Remained inconclusively discussed)

2.      Law and Order situation in Manipur

3.       Public Distribution System

 

II - DISCUSSION ON THE DEMANDS FOR GRANTS OF THE FOLLOWING MINISTRIES

 

1.      Railways

2.      Agriculture

3.      Defence

4.      Human Resource Development

5.      Home Affairs

6.      Science & Technology

 

III - CALLING ATTENTION

Fall in prices of rubber (Due to interruptions, clarifications by Members could not be sought)

 

RAJYA SABHA

 (Second Part)

I - DISCUSSION ON THE WORKING OF THE FOLLOWING MINISTRIES

 

1.      Water Resources

2.      Rural Development

3.      Power

4.      Commerce

5.      Statistics and Programme Implementation

6.      Civil Aviation

 

II - CALLING ATTENTION WHICH COULD NOT BE TAKEN UP DUE TO DISRUPTION OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSES

 

            Increasing cases of frauds in Private Sector Banks and merger of Global Trust Bank with Oriental Bank of Commerce.