Rajya Sabha was unable
to take up schedule business as opposition protests continued causing
disruptions.
Productivity and Question Hour in the Upper House has become
a casualty to these disruptions.
|
|
Lok Sabha |
Rajya Sabha |
|
Productivity |
98% |
63% |
|
Question Hour Performance |
93% |
13% |
The figures above represent functioning as a percentage of
scheduled time. Data is updated as of 9 December 2015.
The Lower House passed the Industries (Development and
Regulation) Amendment Bill. The Bill amends the Industries (Development and
Regulation) Act, 1951.
The 1951 Act provides for development and regulation of
certain industries including metallurgical, telecommunications, transportation,
fermentation (which includes production of alcohol) among others. The 1st
schedule of the Act includes all industries that are regulated under the
Act. The Bill amends this schedule to
exclude production of alcohol for potable purposes from the ambit of the Act.
The Supreme Court of India in its judgement on January 20,
1997, demarcated the regulation of production of alcohol between centre and
states (Bihar Distillery and another vs. Union of India and others). The court ruled
that centre should regulate the production of alcohol for industrial use and
states should regulate the production of alcohol for potable purpose (domestic
consumption). The Bill conforms to the
Supreme Court’s decision.
Lok Sabha also concluded discussion on the drought situation
in various parts the country.