Parliament Monsoon Session: The Monsoon session is scheduled to conclude on October 1. (File)
The ongoing monsoon session of Lok Sabha will be curtailed by several days, the government decided on Saturday after consulting the opposition at the Business Advisory Committee meeting this evening. The Parliament met for the first time in six months on September 14 and was to function until October 1.
The centre is concerned for the safety of MPs after three of them tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this week, days after their mandatory test reports turned out negative.
A final decision will be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. The Lok Sabha has so far passed three Bills to replace agriculture sector related ordinances.
Also, both the Houses have cleared a bill to replace an ordinance for cutting by 30 per cent the salaries of MPs to ramp up funds in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier in the day, the Rajya Sabha passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020, whereby fresh insolvency proceedings will not be initiated for at least six months starting from March 25 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Replying to a debate on the Bill in the House, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the intention of the IBC is to keep companies a "going concern" and not liquidate them.
The Bill mandates that a default on repayments from March 25, the day when a nationwide lockdown began to curb the spread of coronavirus, would not be considered for initiating insolvency proceedings for at least six months.
The bill seeks to replace an ordinance promulgated in this regard in June.
Here are the Highlights from the Parliament Monsoon Session 2020:
Opposition question setting up of PM CARES Fund, allege it lacks transparency
Members of opposition parties like the Congress, DMK and the TMC on Saturday opposed in Lok Sabha the setting up of the PM CARES Fund, alleging that it lacked transparency.
They were participating in a debate on the bill for giving effect to various compliance relief measures for taxpayers, including extending time limits for filing returns, in the wake of the coronavirus crisis and tax benefits for donations to PM CARES Fund.
"I can't understand the logic to have a separate fund. What is the difference between the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund and the PM CARES Fund," said NK Premachandran (RSP), who initiated the debate on The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020.
"Eight different Acts are being modified means substantial changes took place in eight Acts and one of the major Acts is the Income Tax Act of 1961," he said.
PM-CARES Fund is a public charitable trust so it was suggested that CAG audit is not required: Anurag Thakur
Rajya Sabha approves amendments to insolvency law
Rajya Sabha on Saturday passed amendments to the insolvency law for suspension of fresh insolvency proceedings for at least six months starting March 25 amid the coronavirus pandemic, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman saying a decision on extending the suspension of relevant provisions will be taken next week.
In the wake of the COVID-19 situation, the government decided to suspend the provisions starting from March 25 for six months by promulgating an ordinance in June.
Default on repayments from March 25, the day when the nationwide lockdown began to curb coronavirus infections, would not be considered for initiating insolvency proceedings for at least six months. The six-month period is ending next week.
Government introduces three labour bills in Lok Sabha
The government on Saturday introduced three bills related to labour laws, including on industrial relations, in the Lok Sabha amid opposition from the Congress and few other parties.
Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar introduced the Occupational Safety, Health And Working Conditions Code, 2020, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, and the Code On Social Security, 2020.
He withdrew the three bills that were introduced last year and introduced the three new ones.
According to the minister, over 29 labour laws have been merged into four codes and that one of them has already been passed.
The Code on Wages Bill, 2019 was passed by Parliament last year.
The Taxation and other Laws Bill, 2020 corners the public funds for PM-CARES: Mahua Moitra
Farming related bills are nothing but a sugar-coated pill: Telangana Chief Minister's Office
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said that farmers and farming related bills introduced by Centre in Parliament would do a lot of injustice to farm sector in country. Mr Rao said these bills are nothing but a sugar-coated pill & should be opposed at all costs: Chief Minister's Office
No progress is taking place in Jammu And Kashmir: Farooq Abdullah
Rajya Sabha passes bill to punish those attacking healthcare workers
The Rajya Sabha on Saturday passed a legislation that provides for up to seven years in jail for those attacking doctors and healthcare workers fighting the COVID-19 outbreak or during any situation akin to the current pandemic.
The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was introduced by Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan in the Upper House on Saturday to replace an ordinance issued by the government in April.
The Union Cabinet had promulgated The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, to protect healthcare service personnel and property, including their living/working premises against violence during epidemics.
The Bill intends to ensure that during any situation akin to the current pandemic, there is zero-tolerance to any form of violence against healthcare service personnel and damage to property.
Congress moves adjournment motion in Lok Sabha over spike in COVID-19 cases
Congress chief whip in Lok Sabha Koddikunil Suresh on Saturday gave an adjournment motion notice in the Lower House on the issue of the rising cases of coronavirus in the country.
The Congress leader had further asked the Central Government to provide compensation to the kins of those who have died after contracting the infection and also minimum charges for the treatment of the patients receiving treatment for the coronavirus at the private hospitals.
Another Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi also gave an adjournment motion notice in the Lower House over demanding discussion on the status of clause 6 of the Assam accord.
Union Labour Minister introduces New Labour Code
Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar introduces New Labour Code in Lok Sabha
Constitute task force to frame rules for online classes: Ahmed Patel
The Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Patel on Saturday demanded that a task force be constituted to frame guidelines for holding online classes for school children and the government helps students from weaker sections of the society who do not have access to computers or smartphones.
Raising the demand in Rajya Sabha during the Zero Hour, Mr Patel said the Centre must increase spending to provide digital support to poor students.
"We demand from the government to constitute a task force to study how online classes are putting severe mental stress on students as well as their families. The central government should come out with national guidelines after consulting states as to what should be the rules under which online classes be held.
This farm bill which has been passed by the Lok Sabha is only to help the corporates. The farmers are now on a war-path. The Modi government has completely ignored the farmers of this country & now their plight is very severe: R Chennithala, Congress, Kerala Opposition Leader.
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 9 am tomorrow
Rajya Sabha passes Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill 2020.
Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan moves motion for consideration of the Epidemic Diseases Amendment Bill 2020.
Healthcare Workers Insulted Due to Covid Stigma: Harsh Vardhan
Many healthcare workers including doctors, paramedics were insulted in some form or the other, due to stigma attached to COVID19. Centre govt acted on this situation and found that there was a need for a law, a prohibitory mechanism against such incidents: Dr Harsh Vardhan in Rajya Sabha.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan makes his statement as The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 is being tabled for consideration in Rajya Sabha.
Rajya Sabha passes the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill
Congress leader Sanjay Jha comes in support of the Centre over Agri Bills and says, "Does not APMC abolition end monopoly/cartels and so boost farmer's income? If YES, back the bills."
Farmers in Amritsar, Punjab, hold a protest demonstration against the Centre over its recent agriculture ordinances in the Parliament.
Pay More Attention to TB Patients: Rajya Sabha MP
Parliament Schedule For TodayLOK SABHA
Bills to be introduced
The Industrial Relations Code, 2020.
The Code On Social Security, 2020.
Bills for consideration and passing
The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of
Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020.
The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
Bills to be withdrawn
The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2019.
The Industrial Relations Code, 2019.
RAJYA SABHA
Obituary reference
Bills for consideration and passing
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020.
The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill.
Bharatiya Janata Party MP Neeraj Shekhar has given zero-hour notice in Rajya Sabha over demand for inclusion of Bhojpuri in the 8th Schedule to the Constitution.
Rajya Sabha MP Sonal Mansingh has given zero-hour notice over the demand to provide support to artists facing hardships due to COVID-19 pandemic.