Parliament Diary

Parliament met for the twelfth sitting of this Session today.

The
Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture presented its
report on the Anti Hijacking Bill, 2014 in Parliament. The Committee
chaired by Dr. Kanwar Deep Singh recommended that the Bill be passed
after incorporating some amendments. The Standing Committee pointed out
that ‘preparing for hijacking’ must also be included within the acts
listed in the definition of hijacking. The Committee recommended adding a
new provision to cover hoax calls, and providing appropriate punishment
for it. The Bill provides for death penalty, where the hijacking
results in death of hostage or security personnel. To this provision,
the committee recommended death penalty for cases resulting in the death
of any person.

A summary of the report is attached.

The
Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill was passed by Rajya Sabha today. The
bill brings e-carts and e-rickshaws within the ambit of the 1988 Act.
The Bill also provides for the central government to make Rules on (i)
the specifications for e-carts and e-rickshaws, and (ii) the manner and
conditions for issuing driving licenses.

Rajya
Sabha today referred the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation)
Bill to a Select Committee comprising 19 members.  The Upper House also
referred the Coal Mines Special Provisions Bill to a Select Committee
of 19 members of the House.  Both the Committees have to present their
reports by March 18, 2015.

The first part of the Budget Session concludes on March 20. If these Bills are not passed by then, the related Ordinances will lapse on April 6.

Discussion on the Rail Budget (2014-2015) began in both the Houses today.

Both the Houses were sitting at the time of sending this report.