Govt extends Lok Sabha session to finish pending business

Announces Rs 3,000 crore to Bengal for support on Land Boundary Agreement

The government on Thursday extended the Budget session of the Lok Sabha by three days in an effort to conclude its unfinished legislative agenda, particularly to ensure passage of its reform-oriented Bills such as the undisclosed foreign income and assets (imposition of tax) Bill, also known as the black money Bill.

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) today decided to extend the Lok Sabha until May 13. The Lok Sabha session was earlier scheduled to conclude this Friday. The Rajya Sabha will continue its proceedings, as per its earlier schedule, until May 13.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said extending Lok Sabha will enable the government to pass several of the pending bills. Government sources said the contentious land acquisition Bill is likely to be tabled in the Lok Sabha during this extended period, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy said after the CCPA meeting. The government, however, is also mulling constituting a joint committee of both the Houses to go into this specific legislation.

These bills are: black money Bill, national waterways Bill, a bill to increase investment limits in the micro, small and medium enterprises, a Bill to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act, whistleblowers' Bill, compensatory afforestation Bill, a bill to amend the Negotiable Instruments Act related to cases of dishonoring of cheques and a Bill to reduce the work load of the Delhi High Court.

The Lok Sabha today passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2014. It also passed the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement. With this the over 40 years old agreement now stands ratified by the Parliament. The Rajya Sabha passed the constitutional amendment on Wednesday.

The Centre also announced Rs 3008 crore package to West Bengal after the Trinamool Congress supported the Land Boundary Agreement Bill in both Houses of Parliament. The package, which Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had sought, has been offered for rehabilitating residents of enclaves from Bangladesh.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj announced the package during the discussion on the bill in the Lok Sabha. She said the funds will be used to rehabilitate the estimated 35,000 people enclaves that have gone to Bangladesh.