By Yatish Yadav
Published: 24th November 2014 06:13 AM
NEW DELHI: The government has classified Bills to be passed during the Winter Session of Parliament starting Monday under three categories, A, B and C, with bills under A being the highest priority.
Among 25 priority bills, the government may push for Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill pending in Rajya Sabha, The Mental Health Care Bill, 2013, The National Identification Authority Bill, 2010, for providing legislative cover to Aadhaar scheme, Merchant Shipping Amendment Bill, 2013, and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2014, to modify the list of Scheduled Castes in four states of Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Tripura.
Despite the chit fund controversy raging in the country, the law to ban Ponzi schemes will be further delayed as the Prize Chits & Money Circulations Schemes (Banning) Amendment Bill 2014 is not yet ready.
Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials Bill to prevent corruption related to bribing of foreign officials is unlikely to be introduced in the coming session. However, Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill suggested in priority ‘C’ is ready but Ministry of Personnel is yet to prepare a Cabinet note.
The introduction of Goods and Service Tax (GST) billed as landmark reform measure has been slotted under the least important category. The GST bill is not ready yet, the note suggests. Even two laws related to Nuclear energy-the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority Bill, 2014, and the Atomic Energy and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2014, are under ‘C’ Category.
The note says the Civil Aviation Authority Bill, 2014, to create Independent Civil Authority replacing Directorate General of Civil Aviation is not ready while the Cabinet note for Anti-hijacking (Amendment) Bill, 2010, has been prepared but it is yet to get Cabinet approval.
“The Prime Minister said that Goverment is ready to take up all issues. With collective wisdom, issues of all parties can be taken forward,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said after an all party meeting not attended by TMC and Samajwadi Party.
About 40 leaders from 26 parties participated in the meeting, which was also attended by Congress, Left parties and JD(U).