File photo of Rajya Sabha
The Narendra Modi government is considering extending the first part of the Budget Session to finish important legislative work, and then proroguing the session ahead of schedule, sources have said.
It finds itself in a fix over its ordinances or temporary executive orders, particularly its land reforms, which have been passed by the Lok Sabha, but are unlikely to get through the Rajya Sabha or upper house, where the government is in a minority.
The ordinance and several others issued by the government lapse on April 5. If Parliament is not in session then, the government can re-issue the ordinance, which must eventually get the approval of both Houses.
The Congress, which helped the government pass the Insurance Bill in the Rajya Sabha last week, has made it clear that it will not extend the same courtesy for the Land Acquisition Bill. It says it will support only the law that its government passed in 2013 and that any changes must first be referred to a parliamentary committee for review.
Referring it to a select committee of the Rajya Sabha - formed for a particular purpose and for a fixed time frame - will mean that the ordinance will lapse while the panel is reviewing it.
The government would also be moving to pass amended versions of the coal and mines bills by March 18. The bills are presently being examined by Select Committees, which are set to submit their reports by March 18. The government had agreed to some changes to bring the TMC and BJD on board, and would have two days to get the amended versions ratified by the Lok Sabha.
The Budget Session is held in two parts. This year, the first phase of the session will end on March 21, and Parliament will break for a recess and reconvene on April 19.
Proroguing a session means to discontinue it, to be reconvened at a later date.
The Land Acquisition Bill, which makes it easier to buy land for big projects, has been opposed an "anti-farmer" by the Congress and other opposition parties. Even the BJP's ally Shiv Sena did not vote alongside the government in the Lok Sabha, where the Bill sailed through despite the fierce opposition and many parties walking out, because of the government's big numbers.
In an attempt to placate critics, political rivals and uncomfortable allies, the government moved nine amendments to its bill in the Lok Sabha. Repeated efforts to win the support of the opposition parties through negotiation has also come to naught.