Parliament Diary

Parliament met for the 19^th Sitting of the Budget Session today.

The Securities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was introduced in Lok Sabha
today. The Bill amends the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act,
1992, the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 and the
Depositories Act, 1996.
 
It was originally introduced in 2013 and lapsed at the end of the 15^th Lok Sabha. The Securities Laws (Amendment) Ordinance has been promulgated thrice before. More information on the Bill can be found here.
 
Lok Sabha undertook a discussion on the spread of Encephalitis in
Eastern Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country. The issue was
listed for discussion as a Calling Attention Motion in Lok Sabha, under
which only the MPs who have given the notice speak on the issue which is
followed by a statement by the Minister. However, once the issue was
raised, Yogi Adityanath requested that the issue be raised as a Short
Duration Discussion, so that other MPs can also express their views. The
Speaker agreed and Lok Sabha discussed the issue of spread of
Encephalitis from 2-6 pm. At the time of sending this diary Lok Sabha was undertaking matters or urgent public importance.
 
Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Indian National Congress in Lok Sabha,
today again raised the issue of the government not releasing its agenda
for the week. Mr. Kharge told the House that his party was facing a lot
of difficulty because they did not know which Bills the government
would introduce and what matters it would take up for discussion. He
also brought up the fact that while the Business Advisory Committee had
scheduled 6 hours for the discussion on the flood and drought situation
in the country, the discussion on the issue had continued for four days
and still stands not concluded.
 
In Rajya Sabha today the Question Hour was disrupted over the issue of a
derogatory article about the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and the Prime
Minister on the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry’s website. The issue
subsided once External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj assured the House
that she would look into the matter.
 
The Upper House was disrupted again when several MPs, unsatisfied with
the government’s response on the issue of students facing language-based
discrimination in the UPSC exams, trooped the well of the House.
 
When the Rajya Sabha met again, it undertook a discussion on the plight of stranded workers from India in Iraq.

As of today, 11 out of the 14 Bills listed for consideration and passing in this Session are still pending.