Rajya Sabha returns Finance Bill with amendments

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday returned to the Lok Sabha the Finance Bill, 2017, with five amendments, after discussing the Bill for over five hours spread across two days.

The Bill, already passed by the Lok Sabha, was moved in the Rajya Sabha on March 27.

The government has moved more than 40 amendments to the original Bill, some of which amend a number of corresponding legislations, with opposition accusing the government of sneaking in non-finance matters through the Finance Bill, over which the Upper House has no powers.

Congress' Digvijay Singh moved amendments to three Clauses of the Bill, which seek to amend Sections 132, 132(A) and 133 of the Income Tax Act. The amendments by Digvijay Singh were adopted after division of votes gave a clear 'ayes' to the opposition.

CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury also moved two amendments to the government Bill which were also adopted after division of votes.

The Bill was returned to the Lok Sabha that will consider the amendments moved by the upper House, but it is not a binding on the Lower House to accept all or any of the amendments.

--IANS

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