Parliament Diary

Parliament met for the 19^th sitting of the Winter
Session today.

Lok Sabha passed The Motor Vehicles
(Amendment) Bill, 2014. The Bill brings e-carts and e-rickshaws under the ambit
of the Motor Vehicles 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. More
details on the Bill can be found here. 

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas and other related Law (Amendment)
Bill, 2014 and The Regional Rural Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2014 were introduced
in Lok Sabha today.

As per a
government notification, The Lokpal and Lokayuktas and other related Law
(Amendment) Bill, 2014 is regarding the composition of the Selection Committee
for selection of the Chairperson and Members of Lokpal. The Bill provides that
when there is no recognised Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, the expression
"Leader of Opposition" shall include the "Leader of the Largest
Party in Opposition of the Government" in the Lok Sabha. The notification also states that the amendments seek to
synchronize the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act with existing
regulating Acts, Rules and Regulations in respect of declaration of assets and
liabilities by various categories of public servants and establish appropriate
mechanisms to obtain and publish such information received from public
servants, for the benefit of the public.

The Regional Rural Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2014 is amending
the Regional Rural Banks Act of 1976. Among other things, the Bill enhances the
amount of issued and authorised capital for a regional rural bank, increases
the minimum tenure of a director on the board of a regional rural bank, and allows the central government to appoint an
official to the board of a regional rural bank.

Lok Sabha further discussed the reported dilution of Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Rajya Sabha was unable to function again today. Both The
Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2008 and The Coal Mines (Special Provisions)
Bill, 2014 were listed for consideration and passing in Rajya Sabha today (To see a video about the
Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, please go here).

Yesterday in Rajya Sabha, the Anti-Hijacking (Amendment)
Bill, 2010 was withdrawn and The Anti-Hijacking (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was
introduced. The Anti-Hijacking Bill, 2014, seeks to repeal the
Anti-Hijacking Act, 1982. The
Anti-Hijacking Bill, 2014 provides for death penalty, if commission of
hijacking results in death of any security personnel or hostages. In all other cases, punishment for aircraft
hijacking will be life imprisonment and fine. Moveable and immoveable property of the convicted person is also liable for
confiscation under the new Bill.

Rajya Sabha has lost 37% of its time in the Winter Session as of now, while Lok Sabha has functioned for all 100%.