New criminal laws get Parliament nod, LS, RS adjourned sine die
During the Winter Session, 100 MPs were suspended from the Lok Sabha, including three on Thursday, for unruly behaviour and misconduct. The total suspensions from both Houses stood at 146.
The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die on Thursday (December 21), a day ahead of the scheduled end of Parliament's Winter Session.
During the Winter Session, 100 MPs were suspended from the Lower House, including three on Thursday, for unruly behaviour and misconduct. The total suspensions from both Houses stood at 146.
The Opposition had been demanding a statement in the House from Home Minister Amit Shah for the security breach on December 13.
In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, two persons jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow smoke from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by some MPs.
The Lok Sabha passed three key Bills to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Indian Evidence Act.
The House also cleared a Bill to establish a mechanism for the appointment of chief election commissioner and election commissioners.
TMC's Mahua Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha after the House adopted a resolution accepting the recommendation of the House ethics committee which found her guilty for asking questions in Parliament in return of cash and gifts.
Moitra had dubbed the action against her as the ruling of a "kangaroo court". The Winter Session began on December 4 and was scheduled to conclude on December 22.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Thursday. The Upper House of Parliament was adjourned sine die (indefinitely) after it passed three Bills that seek to replace the colonial-era criminal laws – the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Indian Evidence Act.
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- 21 Dec 2023 2:26 PM IST
Parliament passes The Telecommunications Bill 2023
Parliament on Thursday passed a bill that seeks to allow the government to temporarily take control of telecom services in the interest of national security, and provide a non-auction route for the allocation of satellite spectrum.
The Telecommunications Bill, 2023, was approved by the Rajya Sabha through a voice vote. It was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday after a short debate.
The Bill seeks to allow the government to temporarily take control of telecom services in the interest of national security, and provide a non-auction route for the allocation of satellite spectrum.
It also allows the Centre to take possession of a telecom network in case of any public emergency or in the interest of public safety.
Besides, it provides for stopping transmission and intercepting messages in case of public emergency, in the interest of the public, to prevent incitement for committing offence.
According to the bill, the press messages of correspondents accredited to the Centre or state governments shall not be intercepted or detained unless their transmission has been prohibited under rules applicable to public emergency, and public order.
- 21 Dec 2023 2:07 PM IST
Parliament gives nod to Bill on appointment, service conditions of CEC, ECs
The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed after a brief discussion a Bill which seeks to establish a mechanism to appoint the chief election commissioner and election commissioners.
The Rajya Sabha has already given its nod to the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023.
Responding to the debate, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the 1991 Act on the service conditions of the CEC and the ECs was a half-baked attempt and the present Bill covers the areas left out by the previous legislations.
The Bill was then passed by a voice vote.
- 21 Dec 2023 1:42 PM IST
Bill to regulate service terms of CEC, EC tabled in LS
The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, has been tabled in the Lok Sabha. It was passed by the Rajya Sabha.
- 21 Dec 2023 1:19 PM IST
LS Speaker warns three Congress MPs against protesting in House
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday warned Congress MPs DK Suresh, Deepak Baij and Nakul Nath against protesting in the House.
As the House met this morning, opposition MPs continued their protest against suspension of MPs from the House, and demanded a discussion on the Parliament security breach issue and a statement by Home Minister Amit Shah. Opposition MPs could be heard raising slogans as the Question Hour was taken up.
Soon after the Question Hour concluded, the Speaker warned the protesting members, and named the three Congress MPs.
"I have not suspended any MP without any reason. You are tearing and throwing papers in the House. MPs are coming to me and asking me to suspend them," the speaker said.
"I don't want to suspend anyone but you bring placards in the House...this is not right," he said.
- 21 Dec 2023 1:00 PM IST
Moment to start writing obituaries: Shashi Tharoor
Suspended MPs' protest: Opposition cries foul, Tharoor says moment to start writing 'obituaries for Parliamentary democracy'
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) December 21, 2023
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/f4gV7WYOAP#Parliament #SuspendedMPs #ShashiTharoor pic.twitter.com/pBjGmSAKha - 21 Dec 2023 12:00 PM IST
Opposition holds protest against suspension of MPs from Parliament
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday alleged that Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar had brought casteism to Parliament, after the Vice President had slammed a TMC leader’s mimicry of him and called it an insult to his background as a farmer and Jat.
Kharge made the remarks after opposition MPs marched to Vijay Chowk from Parliament to protest the suspension of 143 MPs from the House.
The Congress president, flanked by MPs and leaders of INDIA bloc parties, alleged that it was a matter of breach of privilege of the House that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken outside Parliament while it was in session and did not apprise the House over the Lok Sabha security breach incident.
“We wanted to raise Parliament security breach issue as to why it happened and who is responsible,” Kharge said.
The opposition wanted to speak on the issue but Prime Minister Modi and Home minister Shah did not turn up, even as the PM continued to make speeches elsewhere, Kharge said.
INDIA bloc leaders will protest at Jantar Mantar on Friday against suspension of MPs and nationwide protests will also be held in all district headquarters against the government’s “immoral and illegal” behaviour of this government.
He also alleged that the government doesn't want the House to function.
In an apparent reference to the mimicry issue and Dhankhar’s remarks on it, Kharge said, “I am sorry to say that the Rajya Sabha Chairman has in a way brought casteism to Parliament by raising an issue.”
(With inputs from agencies)
- 21 Dec 2023 11:30 AM IST
We are repeatedly requesting LS Speaker, RS Chairman to allow us to speak on security breach; ruling party MPs disrupting proceedings: Kharge
We are repeatedly requesting LS Speaker, RS chairman to allow us to speak on security breach; ruling party MPs disrupting proceedings: Kharge.
