The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die (indefinitely) on Thursday, a day ahead of schedule. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were present in the Lok Sabha. The Winter Session of the Parliament began on December 4 and was scheduled to continue till December 22.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that the Lower House recorded 74 per cent productivity in the Winter Session of Parliament. The Speaker, in his concluding remarks, said that the House held 14 sittings and worked for 61 hours and 50 minutes.
A total number of 265 matters were taken up under Rule 377, he added.
Three more MPs were suspended on Thursday, all from Congress, from the Lok Sabha, taking the total number of members of the Lower House against whom such action has been taken to 146.
The Congress MPs – Deepak Baij, Nakul Nath and D K Suresh — were suspended as they continued their protest showing placards, shouting slogans and tearing papers and throwing them at the Speaker’s chair.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved a motion for the suspension of the three MPs.
“This House having taken serious note of misconduct of Deepak Baij, D K Suresh, Nakul Nath in utter disregard to the House and authority of the Chair through display of placards, entering into the Well of the House…may be suspended from the House for remaining session,” Joshi said.
The Opposition MPs had been demanding a statement in the House from Home Minister Amit Shah for the Parliament security breach that took place on December 13 where two people jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour and released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans.
Two others also sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting “tanashahi nahi chalegi” (dictatorship won’t be tolerated) outside the Parliament House premises on the day that coincided with the anniversary of the 2001 terror attack in Parliament.
Lok Sabha clears key Bills
The Lower House passed the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Bill, 2023. It seeks to regulate the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two ECs by constituting a three-member selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and a Cabinet Minister. The Bill has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha.
The Lok Sabha on Thursday also passed the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, which seeks to replace the colonial-era Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867. The Bill will make the registration of periodicals a one-step process as against the eight-step process. The Rajya Sabha had passed the Bill on August 3.
During the Winter Session, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha after the House adopted a resolution accepting the recommendation of the Ethics Committee, which found her guilty for asking questions in Parliament in return of cash and gifts.
The Session was scheduled to conclude on December 22.