Stormy winter session begins today: All the Bills you should know about

Centre is likely to see a united Opposition confronting problems faced by people following demonetisation move

Expecting firework during the winter session of Parliament scheduled to take place between November and December 16, the Opposition is planning to put the government in dock over several issues, including the demonetisation policy.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre likely to push its legislative agenda that includes passage of pending legislations for rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the surrogacy regulation bill.
 

The Centre is likely to see a united Opposition confronting the problems faced by people following the move to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, with issues concerning farmers and one rank one pension (OROP) also likely to be taken up. 
 

Opposition parties including Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and Samajwadi Party have been vociferous in attacking the government over the war against black money and the strategy it is following its demonetisation move. 
 

The agenda for legislation includes ten Bills for consideration and passing. Nine Bills are listed for introduction, consideration and passing and two are listed for withdrawal. Here is the complete list:

Nine Bills to be introduced, consideration and passing are:
 

Title	Objectives
The Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST)        Bill, 2016	Facilitates levy of tax on intra-state supply of        goods or services.
The Integrated GST Bill, 2016	Facilitates levy of tax on inter-state supply of        goods or services.
The GST (Compensation for loss of revenue)        Bill, 2016	Facilitates payment of compensation to states      for loss of revenue arising on account of                implementation of GST.
The Indian Institute of Management Bill, 2016

Declares the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to be Institutions of National Importance
and enables them to award degrees.

The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016

Constitutes the National Surrogacy Board, State Surrogacy Boards and regulates the practice and process of surrogacy.
 

The Divorce (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Amends the Divorce Act, 1869 with regard to dissolution of marriage and mandatory period of separate residence.

The Collection of Statistics (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Extends the jurisdiction of the 2008 Act to Jammu and Kashmir in respect of statistical matters falling in the Union List and Concurrent List applicable to the state.
 

The Constitution Scheduled Tribes (Order) Amendment Bill, 2016

Revises the list of Scheduled Tribes in the states of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Tripura.
  The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims), 2016
Consolidates laws related to jurisdiction, claims, arrest of vessels and related issues for maritime issues and claims.
 
Two Bills for withdrawal are:

Title	Objectives
In Lok Sabha: The High Court (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016	Changes the names of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras High Courts to Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai High Courts, respectively.
In Rajya Sabha: The Participation of Workers in Management Bill, 1990	Provides for participation of workers in management at shop floor, establishment and board of management levels.

Four Bills for passing that are already introduced in Lok Sabha are:

Title	Objectives

The Mental Healthcare Bill, 2016

 

Replaces the Mental Health Act, 1987 to protect the rights of persons with mental illness and promote their access to mental health care. The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Increases the maternity leave to 26 weeks, grants leave to adopting and commissioning mothers and requires establishments with 50 employees to provide nursery facilities.
  The Consumer Protection Bill, 2015
Replaces the 1986 Act. Provides for redressal of consumer complaints, recall of goods, action against misleading advertisements, and product liability claims.
  The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Proposes that illegal migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan from specified religious groups (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian) will be eligible to apply for Indian citizenship.
 
Six Bills for passing that are already introduced in Rajya Sabha:

Title	Objectives
The HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014	Seeks to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS, prohibit discrimination against persons with HIV and AIDS.
The Employees Compensation (Amendment) Bill, 2016	Requires an employer to inform the employee of his right to compensation under the 1923 Act and imposes a penalty for failure to inform.
The Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2016	Enhances the limit of overtime work hours and empowers central government to make exempting rules related to overtime hours.
The Whistleblowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015	Specifies grounds under which disclosures related to corruption may not be made.
The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013	Makes giving a bribe an offence and modifies the definition of taking a bribe. Requires prior sanction to prosecute former officials.
The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016	Vests all rights, titles and interests over enemy property in an office of the central government.

Source: Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs