Parliament session may be curtailed

Fate of insurance Bill uncertain.

The fate of important legislation like the insurance Bill and amendments to the Land Acquisition Act hangs in the balance as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is contemplating ending the current session of Parliament on December 19.

Although the ongoing phase of the monsoon session was scheduled to end on December 23, many members, especially those from the North-East, have poured in requests to end it early. Their reason: if the session continues till December 23, it will be difficult for them to go back to far-flung constituencies ahead of Christmas.

As the UPA leadership has virtually decided not to go for early elections in February, it will effectively mean that the government will have to call another session of Parliament to pass the vote on account. Top government managers told Business Standard that the next session would be convened on February 23, primarily for a vote on account.

MPs who favour an early adjournment of the current session point out to this logic as well. As the government needs to convene another session, it might try to pass these pending legislation during that period and can easily grant a holiday for three days ahead of Christmas.

The initial list of Bills circulated by the government makes no mention about the insurance Bill. A section of the government, including former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, is, however, keen to table the Bill during the current session.

Although the Bill has no chance whatsoever of getting passed during the current session as it has to be referred to a Standing Committee, the argument in favour of placing it now is: if the Committee works on the Bill and submits its report in the next session, the government will be in a position to pass the Bill.

The government has already prepared a very tight schedule for the next four days. Five Bills, including the Limited Liabilities Bill and one to increase the number of Supreme Court judges, are on the agenda.

Apart from this, there will a two-day discussion on the global economic meltdown and its impact on India. The unorganised sector workers Bill will be taken up in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. As of now, no time has been allotted for passing the rehabilitation and resettlement policy and the proposed amendments to the Land Acquisition Act.