indo-asian news service
New Delhi, Jan 5: The triple talaq bill is now expected to be taken up for passage in the budget session with the Rajya Sabha closing winter session proceedings Friday. The upper house has been adjourned sine die.
The bill, already cleared by the Lok Sabha, could not be passed in the upper house with the Opposition demanding that it be referred to a Select Committee for close scrutiny.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said he hoped that the Congress and other opposition parties would agree on passing the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights in Marriage) Bill, 2017. The legislation proposes to criminalise instant triple talaq and suggests up to three years in jail as punishment for a Muslim husband who divorces his wife by uttering “talaq” thrice.
Asked about a possibility of bringing in an ordinance till the bill cleared, Ananth Kumar parried a direct reply and said: “The dates for the budget session have already been announced. We hope the Congress will understand the public opinion on the issue, reconsider their stand and pass it in the budget session. There is anger among people on this issue.”
Budget session from Jan 29, budget Feb 1
New Delhi: The Budget session of Parliament will commence January 29 and the Union Budget will be presented on February 1, the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs recommended Friday. President Ramnath Kovind will address the joint sitting of the two Houses January 29 and the Economic Survey will be tabled the same day, Parliamentary Affairs minister Ananth Kumar told reporters here. The first phase of the session will be from January 29 to February 9. After a recess, Parliament will meet again from March 5 to April 6, Kumar said.
PROGRESS REPORT
Lok Sabha
Bills passed: 12 (of 16 tabled) in 13 sittings over 61 hours and 48 minutes, Time lost: 14 hours and 51 minutes to disruptions; Extra time: 8 hours and 10 minutes; Important bills passed: Raising the Salaries of Judges, Central Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, The Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Bill, The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill and The Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Amendment Bill. Starred questions listed:?280 (of which 45 were answered orally); Unstarred questions tabled: 3,220 (198 matters of urgent public importance raised) Reports of Standing committees presented: 41
Rajya Sabha
Bills passed: 9; Time lost: over 34 hours; Private Members’ Bills introduced: 19
