New Delhi: The Lok Sabha adjourned sine die on Thursday, December 22, 2023, a day before the scheduled conclusion of the Winter Session of Parliament. During this session, several significant bills were passed, including the Press and Periodical Registration Bill and the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Bill, 2023.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House after the passage of the Press and Periodical Registration Bill, which aims to replace the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867. The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, was also passed, providing a framework for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.
On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha passed three bills to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Evidence Act. These bills aim to modernise and streamline the legal framework in India.
The winter session of Parliament was originally scheduled to end on December 22, but it was concluded a day early. During this session, the Lok Sabha saw a high level of productivity, with 114% of the scheduled business being completed. The Rajya Sabha also witnessed significant progress, completing 90% of its scheduled work.
It is noteworthy that this was not the first instance of a premature adjournment of Parliament sessions in recent times. In May 2021, the budget session ended early, while the winter session in 2022 concluded six days ahead of schedule. Additionally, a special session of Parliament held in September 2023 was also prematurely terminated.
During the winter session, a significant incident occurred on December 13 when two individuals breached Parliament’s security and entered the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors’ gallery, carrying a firearm. The two were subsequently arrested, and the incident led to demands from MPs for a high-level inquiry.
Furthermore, during the session, 146 MPs were suspended for bringing placards and creating ruckus, although Speaker Om Birla clarified that the suspension was not related to demands pertaining to the Parliament security lapse case.
With the conclusion of the Winter Session, attention now turns to the upcoming Budget Session, which is expected to commence in February 2024.
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