Winter Session of Parliament: Day 19 Highlights

Lok Sabha passed The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2014. The Bill brings e-carts and e-rickshaws under the ambit of the Motor Vehicles Act.

The Bill also provides for the central government to make Rules on (i) the specifications for e-carts and e-rickshaws, and (ii) the manner and conditions for issuing driving licenses. More details on the Bill can be found here.

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas and other related Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014 and The Regional Rural Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2014 were introduced in Lok Sabha today.

As per a government notification, The Lokpal and Lokayuktas and other related Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014 is regarding the composition of the Selection Committee for selection of the Chairperson and Members of Lokpal.

The Bill provides that when there is no recognised Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, the expression "Leader of Opposition" shall include the "Leader of the Largest Party in Opposition of the Government" in the Lok Sabha.

The notification also states that the amendments seek to synchronize the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act with existing regulating Acts, Rules and Regulations in respect of declaration of assets and liabilities by various categories of public servants and establish appropriate mechanisms to obtain and publish such information received from public servants, for the benefit of the public.

The Regional Rural Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2014 is amending the Regional Rural Banks Act of 1976. Among other things, the Bill enhances the amount of issued and authorised capital for a regional rural bank, increases the minimum tenure of a director on the board of a regional rural bank, and allows the central government to appoint an official to the board of a regional rural bank.

Lok Sabha further discussed the reported dilution of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Rajya Sabha was unable to function again today. Both The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2008 and The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2014 were listed for consideration and passing in Rajya Sabha today (To see a video about the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, please go here).

Yesterday in Rajya Sabha, the Anti-Hijacking (Amendment) Bill, 2010 was withdrawn and The Anti-Hijacking (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was introduced. The Anti-Hijacking Bill, 2014, seeks to repeal the Anti-Hijacking Act, 1982. The Anti-Hijacking Bill, 2014 provides for death penalty, if commission of hijacking results in death of any security personnel or hostages. In all other cases, punishment for aircraft hijacking will be life imprisonment and fine. Moveable and immoveable property of the convicted person is also liable for confiscation under the new Bill.

Rajya Sabha has lost 37% of its time in the Winter Session as of now, while Lok Sabha has functioned for all 100%.