New Delhi: The fourteenth session of the 17th Lok Sabha, which began on December 4, 2023, was adjourned sine die on Thursday, a day ahead of schedule, as the winter session of Parliament recorded 74 per cent productivity, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said. . Regarding the functioning of the House, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in his concluding speech informed the House that the session that began on December 4 consisted of 14 sittings, which lasted for approximately 61 hours and 50 minutes. Birla said that during the fourteenth session of the 17th Lok Sabha, the productivity of the House was 74 percent.
Birla also said that 12 government bills were introduced and 18 bills were passed during the session. Some of the important bills passed by the House during the session were: Indian Justice (Second) Code, 2023; Indian Civil Defense (Second) Code, 2023; Indian Evidence (Second) Bill, 2023; Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023; And Telecom Bill, 2023. Birla said that supplementary demands for grants – first batch for 2023-2024 and demands for additional grants for 2020-2021 were discussed and passed during the session. Birla mentioned that 55-starred questions were answered orally during the session. Birla said a total of 265 cases were raised under Rule 377. The Speaker said that 182 matters of urgent public importance were raised during the session. The Speaker drew the attention of the House that the department-related standing committees of the Lok Sabha presented 35 reports.
During the session, 33 statements were made under Instruction 73A and a total of 34 statements were made including three statements made by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs in relation to Parliamentary business. The Speaker informed the House, Birla said that about 1930 papers were laid on the table of the House. The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Thursday, a day before the scheduled conclusion of Parliament’s winter session, after the House passed some key bills, including the appointment of the CEC and election commissioners and a bill to change the Press and Registration Act. Books Act, 1867. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 and the Press and Periodicals Registration Bill, 2023 were passed on Thursday. After the passing of the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House sine die. The winter session of Parliament, which began on December 4, witnessed a security breach on December 13 when two men jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors’ gallery. They were carrying smoke cans and were later caught. Members cutting across party lines expressed their concern and a high-level inquiry is being conducted into the incident. 100 opposition MPs were also suspended for “misconduct” in the session, most of them for the remainder of the winter session. The Privileges Committee has also been asked to investigate “gross misconduct” of some members. Opposition members were demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah on the security breach incident. The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Indian Judicial (Second) Code, 2023, the Indian Civil Defense (Second) Code, 2023 and the Indian Evidence (Second) Bill, 2023. These will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872. Amit Shah, replying to the debate on the three bills in the Lok Sabha, said that for the first time, changes have been made in three laws governing the nearly 150-year-old criminal justice system. The winter session of Parliament was to end on 22 December.
