New Delhi, December 5: Ahead of the second day of the winter session, leaders from the INDIA bloc convened at the office of the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge. The meeting, presided over by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, saw the presence of several key leaders, including AAP MP Raghav Chadha, whose suspension in the Rajya Sabha was revoked, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, TMC MP Derek O’Brien, LoP in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, and Jairam Ramesh.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Manish Tewari submitted an Adjournment Motion Notice in the Lok Sabha, urging a discussion on the death penalty for eight former Indian Navy personnel in Qatar. Tewari emphasized that despite raising the matter both inside and outside the House since August 2022, the government’s response has been lacking.
Later in the day, the Central government is expected to present the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha for consideration and passage. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is slated to move both bills, with the former amending the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004.
The first day of the Winter Session of Parliament witnessed the passing of two bills, and the Rajya Sabha decided to lift the suspension of AAP MP Raghav Chadha. Standing committee reports on bills such as ‘The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023,’ ‘The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023,’ and ‘The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023’ were tabled in both Houses.
In a significant move, the Rajya Sabha passed the bill to repeal the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, consolidating and amending laws related to post offices in India. Opposition members raised concerns about potential government surveillance, but the government dismissed these apprehensions. The Lok Sabha also passed the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, aligning with the government’s initiative to repeal outdated laws and amend Acts like the Legal Practitioners Act, 1879.
The government’s legislative agenda for the winter session includes bills to replace key legal frameworks such as the IPC, the Indian Evidence Act, and the CrPC.
