Rajya Sabha session from April 23

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) has recommended that the next session of the Rajya Sabha begin from April 23, three days after the Lok Sabha meets for the second half of the budget session, sources said on Tuesday.

The sources said the CCPA met on Tuesday and decided to recommend that the Rajya Sabha be convened from April 23 to May 13.

The house was prorogued on March 28 after the first half of the budget session, following the government's decision to re-promulgate the land acquisition ordinance.

The sources said the government could not have brought the ordinance unless at least one of the two houses of parliament was prorogued.

The land acquisition ordinance, which was promulgated in December, was to lapse on April 5.

The sources said the Lok Sabha will meet for the second half of the budget session from April 20 till May 8. The budget session of parliament started on February 23.

They said it will be the 235th session of the Rajya Sabha and the house would carry forward the business of the budget session.

The sources said the government is expected to push the new land bill in the upper house where it lacks majority.

The bill with nine official amendments was passed in the Lok Sabha in the first half of the budget session but has not been taken up in the Rajya Sabha.

The Congress and some other parties are firmly opposed to the bill.

The sources said the CCPA decided to recommend convening of the Rajya Sabha session from April 23 so that members have the minimum 15 days to give their notice of questions under the relevant rules of procedure and conduct of business in the upper house.