Winter Session of Parliament

A Total of 19 Bills passed by Both the Houses

The Winter Session of Parliament which commenced on 4th December, 2023 has been adjourned sine die on 21st December, 2023. The Session provided 14 sittings spread over a period of 18 days. During the Session 12 Bills were introduced in Lok Sabha and 18 Bills were passed by Lok Sabha and 17 Bills were passed by Rajya Sabha. 3 Bills were withdrawn with the leave of Lok Sabha while one Bill was withdrawn with the leave of Rajya Sabha. Total number of Bills passed by both the Houses of Parliament during the Session is 19

During the Session, First Batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2023-24 and Demands for Excess Grant for 2020 -21 were discussed and voted in full and the related Appropriation Bills were introduced, discussed and passed by Lok Sabha on 12 December, 2023 after a debate of about 05 hours 40 mins. Rajya Sabha returned these Bills on 19 December, 2023 after a debate of about 22 minutes.

Three landmark Bills relating to the criminal justice system to ensure victim-centric justice namely the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 replacing the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 were passed by both the Houses of Parliament during the Session.

Major Bills passed by both Housesr :

• The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to repeal the Legal Practitioners Act, 1879 and incorporate the provisions of Section 36 of the Legal Practitioners Act 1879 in the Advocates Act, 1961.
• The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to change in nomenclature of ‘weak and under-privileged classes (social castes) to ‘Other Backward Classes’ in the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004.
• The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to provide nomination of not more than two members, one of whom shall be a woman from the community of Kashmiri Migrants and one member from Displaced person from Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
• The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023 provides for establishment of a Central Tribal University in Telangana.
• The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023 seeks to Repeal 76 redundant and obsolete laws.
• The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to extend the validity of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011 for a further period of three years from 01 January, 2024 to 31 December, 2026 thereby providing protection from punitive action to certain forms of unauthorised Developments in Delhi.
• The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 seeks to regulate the appointment, conditions of service and term of office of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, the procedure for transaction of business by the Election Commission and for matters connected therewith.
• The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 seeks to provide for press, registration of periodicals and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• The Telecommunications Bill, 2023 seeks to amend and consolidate the laws relating to development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services and telecommunication networks; assignment of spectrum; and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Major Bills Passed Of Significance

Replacing The Colonial Era Criminal Justice System

Three Bills namely Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, were passed by the Parliament to reform the criminal justice system in the country, replacing the colonial era laws. The Bills prioritise the protection of women and children and introduce certain new offences to tackle contemporary societal challenges. They also regulate the procedure for arrest, investigation, inquiry, and trial of offences and establish new rules for handling evidence for a fair and just criminal justice system rooted in Bharatiyata.

Implementing Modi Ki Guarantee of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam

Through the passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2023 and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill 2023, the Modi Government has taken the first step to reserve 33% of seats for women in the Legislative Assemblies of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry. This forward-looking initiative is designed to enhance gender representation, empower women, and contribute to a more diverse and equitable political landscape.

The Telecommunications Bill, 2023

The passage of the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, was a watershed moment in Indian telecom reform history as it reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to provide Indian telecom with a future fit framework that helps achieve the growth aspirations of New India. It creates a strong, future-ready legal framework for telecommunication technologies based on international standards and ensures legal certainty in spectrum management. It empowers the Central Government to govern Telecommunication Equipment and Infrastructure, Telecommunication Services and Networks, and Spectrum. It perfectly balances the interests of citizens and the national interest.

BILLS PASSED BY LOK SABHA

1. The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
2. The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
3. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023
4. The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023
5. The Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2023
6. The Appropriation (No. 4) Bill, 2023
7. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023
8. The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023
9. The Post Office Bill, 2023
10. The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2023
11. The Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023
12. The Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023
13. The Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
14. The Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
15. The Bhartiya Sakshya Bill, 2023
16. The Telecommunications Bill, 2023
17. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023
18. The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023

BILLS PASSED/RETURNED BY RAJYA SABHA

1. The Post Office Bill, 2023
2. The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023
3. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023
4. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023
5. The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023
6. The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023
7. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023
8. The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023
9. The Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2023
10. The Appropriation (No. 4) Bill, 2023
11. The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2023
12. The Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023
13. The Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023
14. The Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
15. The Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
16. The Bhartiya Sakshya Bill, 2023
17. The Telecommunications Bill, 2023