PRESS RELEASE
The Winter Session,
2004 of Parliament is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, the 1st of
December, 2004 and subject to exigencies of Government Business, the Session
will conclude on Thursday, the 23rd of December, 2004. The Session will provide 17 sittings
spread over a period of 23 days.
To finalise the Government Business for the Winter Session, 2004,
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad,
held a meeting with Secretaries/senior officers of concerned
Ministries/Departments, on Monday, the 22nd of November, 2004, in
Parliament House, New Delhi. The
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Personnel, Public Grievances and
Pensions, Shri Suresh Pachouri and
the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Rural Development, Smt.
Suryakanta Patil co-chaired the meeting.
During the meeting, 46 Bills which includes 6 Bills seeking to replace 6
Ordinances promulgated during the inter-session period were identified for being
taken up during the Winter Session, 2004 (Annex – I). In addition, 2 items of
financial and 4 items of non – legislative business were also identified for
being taken during the Session (Annex –II).
Annex – I
BILLS LIKELY TO BE TAKEN UP DURING WINTER SESSION, 2004
(i)Bills in pending in Lok Sabha
|
S.No. |
Name of the Bill |
Purport |
|
1. |
The Central Excise Tariff
(Amendment) Bill, 2004 |
To align the Central Excise Tariff with the Customs Tariff and to introduce 8-digit classification code in place of existing 6-digit classification and to enable the Central Government to amend the First & Second Schedules to the Central Excise Tariff by Notification. |
|
2. |
The Customs & Central Excise
Laws (Repeal) Bill, 2004 |
To repeal five obsolete enactments relating to
Customs and Central Excise Laws from the Statute
Book. |
(ii)Bills in pending in Rajya Sabha
|
S.No. |
Name of the Bill |
Purport |
|
1 |
The University Grants
Commission (Amendment) Bill, 1995 (To be
withdrawn) |
To strengthen the University Grants Commission
to enable it to deal effectively with the emerging challenges; to enhance
the penalty for contravention of the provisions of Sections 22 and 23 of
the University Grants Commission Act and to provide for the
establishment/regulation of foreign universities. |
|
2 |
The Aquaculture
Authority Bill, 2000 (To be
withdrawn) |
To provide for the
establishment of an Aquaculture Authority to regulate aquaculture
activities in coastal areas. |
|
3 |
The Delegated
Legislation Provisions (Amendment) Bill, 2003 (To be
withdrawn) |
To amend certain enactments to implement the recommendation of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation with regard to publication and laying of Rules & Regulation and other delegated Legislations. |
|
4 |
The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill,
2002 |
To broaden coverage of the Payment
of Wages Act, 1936, and to strengthen penal provisions,
etc. |
(iii)
– New Bills
|
S.No. |
Name of the
Bill |
Purport |
|
1. |
The
Prevention of Terrorism (Repeal) Bill, 2004 (To
replace ordinance) |
To replace the Prevention of
Terrorism (Repeal) Ordinance, 2004 (No.1 of 2004) promulgated on
21.09.2004 To
repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002. It also inter-alia
provides that for a period of one year from the date of promulgation of
the Ordinance, courts may continue to take cognizance of any offence under
the repealed act, and the review committee constituted under the repeal
Act may continue to review cases. |
|
2. |
The
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill,
2004 (To replace
ordinance) |
To
replace the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Ordinance, 2004
(No.2 of 2004) promulgated on 21.09.2004 To
amend the Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act, 1967 to provide for penalties for being member of an
unlawful association, define terrorist acts and for punishment therefor,
powers of investigating officers, etc. |
|
3. |
The Banking Regulation (Amendment)
and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, 2004 (To
replace ordinance) |
To
replace the Banking Regulation (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions
Ordinance, 2004 (No. 3
of 2004) promulgated on
24.9.2004. To enable Reserve Bank of India to
issue licence to Multi State Cooperative Societies to carry on Banking
Business and providing issuance cover for deposit in the Urban Cooperative
Banks registered under the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act in the
interest of the small depositors. |
|
4. |
The Securities Laws (Amendment)
Bill, 2004 (To
replace ordinance) |
To replace the Securities Laws
(Amendment) Ordinance, 2004. (No. 4 of 2004) promulgated on
12.10.2004. To
provide for corporatising and demutalisation of all recognized stock
exchanges, delisting of securities, appeals against orders of the
Securities Appellate Tribunal, penalties for failure to furnish
information, return etc. and other related matters. |
|
5. |
The Enforcement of Security
Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws Bill, 2004. (To replace
ordinance) |
To
replace the Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws
Ordinance, 2004. (No. 5 of
2004) promulgated on
11.11.2004. To provide for transfer of pending
applications to any one of Debts Recovery Tribunals in certain cases, to
empower the Reserve Bank of India to call for statements and information
from a securitisation or reconstruction company, right of borrowers to
receive compensation and costs in certain cases and matters related
thererto. |
|
6. |
The National Commission for
Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2004 (To
replace ordinance) |
To replace the National Commission for Minority
Educational Institutions Ordinance, 2004 (No. 6 of 2004) promulgated on
11.11.2004 To
create a National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions for the
purpose of inquiring into and determining any dispute between a minority
educational institution and a scheduled university regarding affiliation
of the educational institution concerned and matters related
thereto. |
|
7. |
The
Seeds Bill, 2004 |
To
provide for regulating the quality of the seeds for sale, export and
import, and to facilitate the production and supply of quality seeds to
the farmers. |
|
8. |
The Coastal Aquaculture Authority
Bill, 2004 |
To provide for the establishment of
a Coastal Aquaculture Authority for regulating the activities connected
with coastal aquaculture in the coastal areas and for matters connected
therewith or incidental thereto. |
|
9. |
The Special Economic Zones Bill,
2004 |
To provide for a long term &
stable policy frame-work for Special Economic
Zones. |
|
10. |
The Patents (Amendment) Bill,
2004 |
To
amend the Patents Act, 1970.
|
|
11. |
The Standards of Weights and
Measures (Amendment) Bill, 2004 |
To
amend certain provisions of the Standards of Weights and Measures Act,
1976 |
|
12. |
The Standards of Weights and
Measures (Enforcement) Amendment Bill, 2004 |
To
amend certain provisions of the Standards of Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act,
1985 |
|
13. |
The Actuaries Bill,
2004 |
To
establish a Statutory Institute of Actuaries of India to regulate and
develop the profession of actuaries. |
|
14. |
The Payment of Settlement Systems
Bill, 2004 |
To
provide a legal basis to recognize clearing houses, legal sanction to
netting of payments with receipts, finality of settlement, recognition of
service providers and participants, electronic mode of payments and
explicit powers of supervision over Securities Clearing and Settlement
(SCSS) |
|
15. |
The
Government Securities Bill, 2004 |
Enactment
of a new Government Securities Act |
|
16. |
The
Comptroller and Auditor General (DPC) (Amendment) Bill,
2004 |
To revive the norms of audit
ability of Government funded bodies. |
|
17. |
The
Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Bill,
2004 |
To provide for regulation of Credit
Information Companies & to facilitate efficient distribution of credit
and for matters connected therewith or incidental
thereto. |
|
18. |
The
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill,
2004 |
To
introduce a regulatory prepared frame work for the new pension
system. |
|
19. |
The Paramedical and Physiotherapy
Councils Bill, 2004 |
To
provide for the establishment of Councils for appropriate planning,
coordination, development and improvement of paramedical and physiotherapy
education, with a view to regulating and maintaining standards of
education and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. |
|
20. |
The Public Health Emergency Bill,
2004 |
To provide a comprehensive
legislation for proper management of Public Health
Emergencies. |
|
21. |
The Central Pharmacy Council of
Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Bill, 2004 |
To
establish a Council to regulate the education and practice of pharmacy in
Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy. |
|
22. |
The
Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2004 |
To
make the Councils functionary, accountable and
transparent. |
|
23. |
The Indian Medicine Central Council
(Amendment) Bill, 2004 |
To make the Councils functionary,
accountable and transparent. |
|
24. |
The Displaced Persons Claims and
Other Laws (Repeal) Bill, 2004 |
To repeal the Displaced Persons
(Compensation and Rehabilitation) Act, 1954 and other related Acts to put
an end to unscrupulous claimants succeeding in getting Government lands
allotted in their favour on the basis of fraudulent and bogus
claims. |
|
25. |
The State Emblem of India
(Prohibition of Improper Use) Bill, 2004 |
To prevent misuse of the State
Emblem of India by unauthorized persons and regulate its use for official
purposes. |
|
26. |
The University of Allahabad Bill,
2004 |
To declare the University of
Allahabad to be an institution of National importance and to provide for
its incorporation and matters connected therewith or incidental
thereto. |
|
27. |
The National Tax Tribunal Bill,
2004 |
To
set up a National Tax Tribunal. |
|
28. |
The Delegated Legislation
Provisions (Amendment) Bill, 2004 |
To
make certain more enactments in which laying of rules, regulations and
other subordinate legislations are not provided. |
|
29. |
The Andhra Pradesh Legislative
Council Bill, 2004 |
To provide for creation of
Legislative Council for the State of Andhra
Pradesh. |
|
30. |
The Contempt of Courts (Amendment)
Bill, 2004 |
To amend the Contempt of Courts
Act, 1971 permitting a defence of justification by
truth |
|
31. |
The Lokpal Bill,
2004 |
To
provide for the establishment of the institution of Lok Pal to inquire
into allegations of corruption against public functionaries and for
matters connected therewith. |
|
32 |
The
Special Tribunals (Supplementary Provisions) Repeal Bill,
2004 |
To
implement the recommendations of the Commission on Review of
Administrative Laws to repeal the dysfunctional and irrelevant laws in the
Special Tribunals (Supplementary Provisions) Act,
1946. |
|
33 |
The
Administrative Tribunals (Amendment) Bill, 2004. |
To
amend the Act to conform it with the various pronouncements of the Apex
Court and to provide a provision for abolition of the Administrative
Tribunals, if and when, considered appropriate. |
|
34 |
The
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Reservation
in posts and services) Bill, 2004 |
To
provide reservation in appointments and posts for the SCs, STs and OBCs in
all the departments of the Central Government, public sector undertakings,
statutory authorities, autonomous bodies, companies or corporations,
societies, universities, educational institutions affiliated to the
universities or those recognized by the Central Government or receiving
aid from the Central Government, etc. |
|
35 |
The
National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, 2004 |
To
provide employment guarantee to people residing in rural areas, subject to
certain restrictions. |
|
36 |
The
Admiralty Bill, 2004 |
To enact a new Admiralty Act of
India, to replace the
existing laws on the subject. |
|
37 |
The
Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill, 2004 |
In
order to implement the International Code for the Security of Ships and of
Port Facility’ Code, it is proposed to amend certain provisions of the
Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 and the Indian Ports Act,
1908. |
|
38 |
The
Small Enterprises Development Bill, 2004 |
To
abolish the inspector raj and to provide a single platform for discussion
of problems in relation to small enterprises and for matters connected
therewith or incidental thereto. |
|
39 |
The
Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board Bill,
2004 |
To
set up a Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board to oversee and to
regulate the downstream petroleum sector subsequent to dismantling of the
Administered Price Mechanisms w.e.f 1.4.2002. |
|
40 |
The
Parel Investments and Trading Private Limited and Domestic Gas Private
Limited (Taking Over of Management) Repeal Bill,
2004 |
To
repeal the Parel Investments and Trading Private Limited and Domestic Gas
Private Limited (Taking Over of Management) Act,
1979 |
Annex -II
I – FINANCIAL
BUSINESS
1. Discussion
and voting on the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for
2004-05
2.
Discussion
and voting on the Supplementary Demands for Grants (Railways) for
2004-05
II – NON
LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS
1.
Resolution seeking approval to the rejection of
award given by Board of Arbitration (JCM) in case reference No.1 of 1988
granting a transport subsidy of Rs.30/- per month to non-gazetted employees
w.e.f. 1.4.1989. The Award was
given on 15.12.1989.
2.
Resolution seeking approval to the
rejection of award of the Board of Arbitration in C.A. Reference No.7 of 1993
regarding grant of benefit of pay fixation under F.R. 22-C on appointment of
Gr.D. Farash/Sweeper/Mali etc., in the scale of pay Rs.750-940 to the post of
Peon in the identical Pay scale of Rs. 750-940.
3.
Resolution seeking approval to the
rejection of award of the Board of Arbitration in C.A. References No.8 of 1993
and 9 of 1993 regarding JCM Award of Grant of Special Pay to Income Tax
Inspectors.
4.
Discussion on Tenth Five Year Plan, 2002-2007 (To be
discussed in Lok Sabha only) .
