November 09, 2001

‘16’

    Union Minster for Parliamentary Affairs, Information Technology & Communications, Shri Pramod Mahajan, today convened a meeting with senior officials of various Government departments to discuss and identify the Government business during the forthcoming Winter Session of Parliament which is commencing on 19th November, 2001 and will adjourn sine die on 21^st December, 2001.

    The Session will provide 23 sittings, including 5 private Members’ days, spread over a period of 33 days. Major part of the Session will be devoted to the transaction of the Government Legislative Business.

    It is proposed to give priority to the Ordinances issued after the Monsoon Session, 2001. The Ordinances are as follows: The Institute of Technology (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001, promulgated on the 21^st September, 2001; The Companies (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001, promulgated on the 23^rd October, 2001; The Passports (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001, promulgated on the 23^rd October, 2001; The Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance, 2001, promulgated on the 24^th October, 2001.

    The Meeting also identified important Bills which will be accorded priority during the Session for being passed. The Bills are as follows: The Constitution Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2001, The Haj Committee Bill, 2000, The Constitution 93^rd Amendment Bill, 2001, The Constitution 83^rd Amendment Bill, 1997,

    The Central Vigilance Commission Bill, 1999, The Freedom for Information Bill, 2000, The Constitution (Eighty-Fifth Amendment) Bill, 1999, The Explosive Substances (Amendment) Bill, 1999, The Repatriation of Prisoners Bill, 2001, The Constitution 92^nd (Amendment) Bill, 2001, The Cine Workers Welfare Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2000, The Essential Services (Maintenance) Repeal Bill, 2001, The Multi-State Cooperative Societies Bill, 2000, The National Cooperative Development Cooperation (Amendment) Bill, 1995, The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2001, The Coast Guard (Amendment) Bill, 2001, The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2001, The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (Amendment) Bill, 2001, The St. John Ambulance Association (India) Transfer of Funds Repeal Bill, 2001, The Vice President Pension (Amendment) Bill, 2001.

    The Winter Session will also consider discussion and voting on Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for 2001-2002, Demand for Excess Grants (General) for 1998-99. Financial business will also include discussion and voting on Supplementary Demands for Grants (Railways) for 2001-2002, Excess Demand for Grants (Railways) for 1998-1999. The business for the Winter Session will also include a discussion on the 9^th Five Year Plan, (1997-2002). In the Non-Legislative Section there would also be Resolution seeking Extension of President’s Rule in Manipur.

    The Meeting also took stock of the number of Bills that had been referred to the Standing Committees of Parliament. Some of the Bills that have been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committees of various Ministries so far are as follows: The Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertaking) and Financial Institutions Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2000, The Financial Companies Regulation Bill, 2000, The Insurance Amendment Bill, 2001, The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Bill, 2000, The Acquaculture Authority Bill, 2000, The Airports Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2000, The Aircraft (Exemption from Taxes and Duties on Fuel and Lubricants) Bill, 2000, The Patents 2^nd (Amendment) Bill, 1999, The Forward Contracts Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 1998, The Biological Diversity Bill, 2000.