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Title: Mr. Speaker made reference on the conclusion of the Second Part of the 14th Session of the 14th Lok Sabha.
MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, the Second Part of Fourteenth Session of the Fourteenth Lok Sabha is coming to a close today.
During the Session, we had 18 sittings in all spread over 96 hours 15 minutes. Of these, 2 sittings were held in the first part and 16 sittings have been held in the second part of the Session.
The first part of this Session commenced on 21 July, 2008. During this part the Prime Minister moved the Motion of Confidence in his Council of Ministers. After a debate lasting for over 15 hours the motion was adopted by 275 ‘Ayes’ to 256 ‘Noes’. Thereafter the House was adjournedsine die on 22 July 2008.
The Second part of the Session commenced on 17 October, 2008 and was adjourned on 24 October, 2008 to meet again on 10 December, 2008.
On 21 October, 2008, the House held discussion lasting over 2 hours and 13 minutes on the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) before they were voted and the related Appropriation Bill was passed. The Supplementary Demand for Grants (Railways) for 2008-09, was voted on 22 October, 2008 and the related Appropriation Bill was passed.
On 19 December and 22 December, 2008, the House again held separate discussion lasting over 2 hours 39 minutes on the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) Second Batch and Supplementary Demand for Grants (Railways) for 2008-09, before the said Demands were voted and the related Appropriation Bills were passed. A Resolution approving the recommendations of the Ninth Report of the Railway Convention Committee (2004) was also adopted by the House.
During the Session, 22 Government Bills were introduced. In all, the House passed 31 Bills. Some of the important Bills passed were the National Jute Board Bill, 2008; The Indian Maritime University Bill, 2008; the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Bill, 2008; Central Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2008; the Science and Engineering Research Board Bill, 2008; the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Bill, 2008; the National Investigation Agency Bill, 2008; the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2008; the Gram Nyayalayas Bill, 2008; the Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2008; the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2008; the South Asian University Bill, 2008 and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2008.
The House also had four short duration discussions under rule 193 on subjects of public importance, namely on the (i) Atrocities against Minorities with particular reference to incidents in Orissa and other States; (ii) on the Statement made by the Minister of Home Affairs on 11.12.2008 regarding the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai; (iii) situation arising out of bomb blasts in various parts of North-Eastern States, with particular reference to Assam and (iv) on the Review of the Economic Situation in the country.
After the conclusion of the discussion on the terrorist attack on Mumbai, the Prime Minister moved a Resolution condemning the heinous terrorist attack in Mumbai by terrorist elements from Pakistan. The Resolution was adopted unanimously.
Coming to Private Members’ Business, 13 Bills were introduced during the Session. The House resumed discussion on the Electoral Reforms Commission Bill, 2006, moved by Shri C.K. Chandrappan seeking to set up an Electoral Reforms Commission with a view to initiate comprehensive reforms in the existing electoral system. The Bill remained part-discussed.
A Private Member’s Resolution regarding legislation for the overall development of persons belonging to Denotified Tribes and Nomadic Tribes moved by Shri Haribhau Rathod during the 13th session on 17 April, 2008 was further discussed on 19 December, 2008 and received whole-hearted support from all sections of the House before it was withdrawn by leave of the House on 19 December, 2008. The other resolution regarding creation of new State of Telangana moved by Shri P.S. Gadhavi on 19 December, 2008 remained part-discussed.
During the Session, 360 Starred Questions were listed, out of which 47 Questions were answered orally. Thus, on an average, about 2.93 Questions could be answered per day. Written replies to the remaining Starred Questions alongwith 3601 Unstarred Questions were laid on the Table. One half-an-hour discussion was also taken up.
In this Session, the Departmentally Related Standing Committees presented 73 Reports.
About 191 matters of urgent public importance were raised by the Members after the Question Hour and even by sitting late in the evening. Hon. Members also raised 129 matters under rule 377. The Ministers made 81 Statements on various subjects including the one by the hon. Prime Minister.
In this Session, we lost 21 hours 33 minutes of time due to interruptions and forced adjournments. On the other hand, the House sat late for 18 hours and 32 minutes to dispose of important Parliamentary business.
I would take this opportunity to thank the hon. Deputy-Speaker and my colleagues in the Panel of Chairmen for their cooperation in the completion of business of the House. I am extremely grateful to the hon. Prime Minister, the Leader of the House, the Leader of the 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 also like to thank, on behalf of all of you, our friends in the Press and 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 am sure all of you, alongwith me, miss the presence of our friend, Shri Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi who is still confined to hospital. We convey our very best wishes for his early recovery.
I wish all the Members a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
16.07 hrs. NATIONAL SONG
MR. SPEAKER :Hon. Members may now stand up as Vande Mataram would be played.
The National Song was played.
MR. SPEAKER: The House stands adjourned sine die.
16.08 hrs
The Lok Sabha then adjourned sine die.