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Title: Mr. Speaker made Valedictory Reference on the conclusion of 12th session of 14th Lok Sabha.
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, the Twelfth Session of the Fourteenth Lok Sabha which commenced on 15 November, 2007 is coming to an end now.
During this session we had seventeen sittings spread over 90 hours wherein important financial, legislative and other business were transacted.
As regards the financial business, the House spent nearly 4 hours on the combined discussion and voting on the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) 2007-2008 and Demands for Excess Grants (General) for 2005-2006, and 5 hours 22 minutes on discussion and voting on the Supplementary Demands for Grants (Railways) for 2007-2008 before passing the related Appropriation Bills.
The House discussed for about 3 hours and 45 minutes, the Statutory Resolution regarding approval of proclamation issued by the President under article 356 of the Constitution in relation to State of Karnataka before it was adopted.
As regards Legislative Business, the House passed 14 Bills. Important Bills passed during the Session included, The All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2007; The Tyre Corporation of India Limited (Disinvestment of Ownership) Bill, 2007; The Payment and Settlement Systems Bill, 2007, Sashastra Seema Bal Bill, 2007, The Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Bill, 2007 and The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2007. The House also had a meaningful discussion for about 2 hours 50 minutes on the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Bill, 2007 together with the Statutory Resolution moved by Shri Varkala Radhakrishnan disapproving the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Ordinance, 2007. The Statutory Resolution was thereafter withdrawn and the Bill was passed. Another combined discussion took place on the Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Bill, 2007 together with the Statutory Resolution moved by Prof. Rasa Singh Rawat seeking disapproval of the Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007. The Statutory Resolution was thereafter withdrawn and the Bill was passed.
During the period, four short duration discussions were taken up on important subjects namely (i) the proposal to set up Special Economic Zone in Nandigram, West Bengal; (ii) Indo-US Nuclear Agreement; (iii) need for harmonious functioning of three organs of the State i.e. Legislature, Judiciary and Executive and (iv) on internal security which remained inconclusive.
Coming to Private Members’ Business, the House resumed discussion on a Private Member’s Resolution regarding “free and compulsory education up to higher secondary level”, moved by Shri Ram Kripal Yadav on 31st August,2007. The Resolution was further discussed for over 2 hours and 17 minutes. However, the discussion was not concluded.[R15]
During this session, 13 Private Member’s Bills were introduced. The House had discussion on three Private Member’s Bills (i) The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2004 moved by Shri Mohan Singh on 24.8.2007; and The Inter-State River Water Regulatory Authority Bill, 2005 also moved by Shri Mohan Singh. These Bills were discussed before they were withdrawn. Another Bill, the Electoral Reforms Commission Bill, 2006, moved by Shri C.K. Chandrappan was discussed for about 20 minutes and the debate remained inconclusive.
During the current session, seven important matters were raised by way of Calling Attention relating to (i) situation arising out of high cost of health services and need to evolve laws to regulate the private nursing homes, raised by Shri Gurudas Dasgupta; (ii) situation arising due to supply of inferior quality wheat to BPL families under the Public Distribution System raised by Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra; (iii) Need for effective implementation of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 raised by Shri Basudeb Acharia; (iv) Need to control the spread of Encephalitis in the country raised by Shri Yogi Aditya Nath; (v) situation arising out of reported fall of water level in the country resulting in scarcity of water in rural areas raised by Shri Hansraj G. Ahir; (vi) situation arising out of violence by All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) on 24.11.2007 at Guwahati raised by Shri Ajoy Chakraborty and (vii) situation arising out of shortage of fertilizers in various parts of the country raised by Dr.Chinta Mohan. In response to these Calling Attention matters, the concerned Ministers made the statements and replied to the clarifications.
As many as 64 statements were made by the Ministers on various other important subjects.
During the session, 340 starred questions were listed, out of which 70 Questions could be answered orally. Thus, on an average, about 4.11 Questions could be answered per day. Written replies to 3334 Unstarred questions were laid on the Table. One Half-an-Hour Discussion on non-issuance of Visas and Passports to Indians Living Abroad was also discussed.
In this Session, the Departmentally Related Standing Committees presented 42 reports.
About 193 matters of urgent public importance were raised by the members after the Question Hour and the day’s proceeding. Hon. Members also raised 186 matters under rule 377.
In this session, we lost over 20 hours of time due to interruptions and forced adjournments, but the House sat late for over 17 hours to complete financial, legislative and other business and for raising matters of urgent public importance. I sincerely thank the Leaders and Members for their cooperation in the smooth conduct of the proceedings in the House, which made it possible for the House to dispose of many issues in a constructive manner.
I would also like to thank the Hon. Deputy Speaker and my colleagues in the Panel of Chairmen for their cooperation in conducting the business before the House. I take this opportunity to thank the Hon. Prime Minister, the Leader of the House, the Leader of Opposition, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Leaders of various parties and groups as well as the Chief Whips apart from the Hon. Members for their cooperation. I would like to thank, on behalf of all of you, our friends in the Media. I take this opportunity to thank the Secretary-General and the officers and staff of the Lok Sabha Secretariat for their dedicated and prompt
service to the House. I also thank the allied agencies for their able assistance in the conduct of the proceedings of the House. Hon. Members, I also wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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14.09 hrs. NATIONAL SONG
MR.. SPEAKER : Hon’ble Members may now stand up as Vande Mataram would be played.
The National Song was played.
MR. SPEAKER: The House stands adjourned sine die.
14.11 hrs.
The Lok Sabha then adjourned sine die.
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