18.00 hrs
Title: References made on the conclusion of the Twelfth Session of the Thirteenth Lok Sabha.
: Hon. Members, the twelfth Session of Thirteenth Lok Sabha which commenced on 17 February, 2003 with the Address by the hon. President to the Members of both the Houses assembled together in the Central Hall, is coming to a close now.
During the Session, as many as 37 sittings, spread over 239 hours, were held. The House took a break from 14 March, 2003 to 6 April, 2003 to enable the Departmentally-related Standing Committees to consider the Demands for Grants of Union Ministries and Departments and submit their Reports to the House. The Standing Committees of Lok Sabha submitted 56 Reports during the Session.
During the Budget Session, the House transacted many important items of financial, legislative and other business. After a debate lasting for more than 13 hours, the House passed the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address on 3 March, 2003.
The General Budget and the Railway Budget of the Union were passed with full co-operation of the entire House. The House even sat late to facilitate general discussions on the Budgets. The Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of External Affairs were voted by the House after separate discussions, each lasting for over six hours. All the outstanding Demands for Grants in respect of Budget (General) for 2003-2004 were voted by the House on 25 April, 2003. Later, on 30 April, 2003, after a thorough discussion which lasted for over 12 hours, spread over four days, in which as many as 47 Members participated, the House passed the Finance Bill, 2003.
The House passed as many as 25 other Bills during the Session. Some of the important Bills among them were, the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 1999, the Central Vigilance Commission Bill, 1999, the Electricity Bill, 2001, the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Bill, 2000, the Constitution (Ninety-fifth Amendment) Bill, 2003 and the Constitution (Ninety-sixth Amendment) Bill, 2003.
As you are aware, the Constitution (Eighty-fifth Amendment) Bill, 1999 seeking to reserve 33 per cent of seats in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for women, was listed for consideration and passing on 6 May, 2003. As there was lack of unanimity among Parties on certain provisions of the Bill, it was felt that it may not be possible to consider the Bill in an orderly manner in the House. The consideration of the Bill, was therefore, deferred. As hon. Members are aware, I propose to hold a meeting of hon. Leaders of Parties on 16 June, 2003 with a view to evolving a consensus on consideration of the Bill.
The House had long and fruitful debates on six important matters of urgent public importance under Rule 193. Further, 13 matters were raised by way of Calling Attention in response to which the concerned Ministers made statements. Besides, as many as 19 statements were made by Ministers on various other important subjects. These statements included one that was made today on the successful launch of Second Test Flight of Satellite Launch Vehicle D-2 from Shriharikota on 8 May, 2003. All of us feel proud on this historic achievement of our scientists.
As regards Private Members’ Business, as many as 19 Private Members’ Bills were introduced. Three Bills came up for consideration, out of which two were withdrawn by the movers after intense debate, with the leave of the House; and the debate on the third Bill remained inconclusive.
As regards Private Members’ Resolutions, three of these were considered by the House. The Resolution moved by Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, `urging the Government to bring forward a suitable legislation to ban slaughter of cow and its progeny throughout the country’ was adopted. Out of the remaining two, one Resolution was withdrawn by the mover, with the consent of the House and the other one remained partly discussed.
The House also unanimously adopted a Resolution placed before it by the Chair deploring the military action by the coalition forces led by the USA against Iraq and urging the UNO to protect the sovereignty of Iraq and to ensure its reconstruction under the UN supervision.
During the Session, 702 Starred Questions were listed, out of which 131 Questions were answered orally. Replies to the remaining 571 Starred Questions and 6936 Unstarred Questions were laid on the Table. Three Half-an-Hour discussions were also taken up by the House.
Hon. Members raised over 373 matters under Rule 377. Besides, as many as 255 matters of urgent public importance were raised during the ‘Zero Hour’.
I am grateful to the hon. Leaders and Members for the felicitations offered by them, which is for the first time in the history of Lok Sabha, on my completion of one year in office.
I take this opportunity to thank all the hon. Members for the kind cooperation extended to me. I would like to thank the hon. Deputy-Speaker and my colleagues in the Panel of Chairmen for assisting me in conducting the proceedings of the House. I would like to specially thank the Leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition, the Leaders of various Parties, Chief Whips and Whips for the cooperation extended to me. I would also like to thank the Parliamentary Affairs Minister for the cooperation that she extended to me.
I would also like to express my thanks to the media for covering the proceedings of the House.
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18.05 hrs.
NATIONAL SONG – Played
MR. SPEAKER :Now hon. Members may stand up as ‘Vande Mataram’ would be played.
(The National Song was played.)
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MR. SPEAKER: The House stands adjourned sine die.
18.07 hrs.
The Lok Sabha then adjourned sine die.
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