Important Parliamentary legislations passed this week

A number of important legislations were passed by both Houses of the Parliament this week during the ongoing Budget session.

The Lok Sabha passed the Constitutional (122ndAmendment) Bill, 2014 to rollout the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The Bill envisages a unified comprehensive indirect tax system.

Various central, state and local taxes will be subsumed under the GST. The Bill gives the Central and State Governments the concurrent power to make laws on the taxation of goods and services.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) was also passed by the Lower House.

The Bill replaces the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and addresses children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection.

It permits juveniles between the ages of 16-18 years to be tried as adults for heinous offences.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Delhi High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2014 during the week. The Bill increases pecuniary jurisdiction of the High Court of Delhi. The Delhi High Court, as the Bill provides, will now have jurisdiction over suits which are above the value of Rs 2 crore.

The Rajya Sabha also passed the Repealing and Amending 2014 and 2015 Bill this week. Both the bills passed by the upper house repeal certain obsolete enactments.

The Constitutional (119th) Amendment Bill was passed by both the houses unanimously. The Bill amends the First Schedule of the Constitution to ratify an agreement entered into by India and Bangladesh on the acquiring and transfer of territories between the two countries on May 16, 1974.

Three new bills were introduced during the week. These were: the National Waterways Bill; the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill; and the Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill.

Two Standing Committee Reports on the Electricity Amendment Bill, 2014 and the Rights of Persons with Disabilites Bill, 2014 were submitted.

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill was sent to a Select Committee in Rajya Sabha. The Committee must submit its report by the first week of the Monsoon Session.