Parliament met for the eleventh sitting of the Winter Session today.
The Payment and Settlement Systems (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was introduced in Lok Sabha today. This Bill amends the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, which was passed in 2007. Lok Sabha also passed the Repealing and Amending (Second) Bill, 2014. Lok Sabha further discussed natural calamities in various parts of the country.
Rajya Sabha was able to conduct legislative business for the first time after 2nd December, when Opposition Parties started protesting over remarks made by a Minister. Between 2nd to 5th December, Lok Sabha's productivity was at 99%, while Rajya Sabha's productivity was at 15%. In the same duration, Question Hour functioned for 83% of the time in Lok Sabha, but functioned for 1% of the time in Rajya Sabha. No legislative business could be conducted in Rajya Sabha on those days either.
Today also saw the Upper House adjourn minutes into the Zero Hour, due to disruptions by Opposition Parties. However, when Rajya Sabha met after lunch at 2:00 pm, the protests had ceased and the House undertook legislative business.
Two Bills were withdrawn from Rajya Sabha. These are the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill, 2000 and the Protection and Utilisation of Public Funded Intellectual Property Bill, 2008.
Rajya Sabha also passed the Textile Undertakings (Nationalisation) Laws (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2014 and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2014
Correction: The Parliament Diary for Thursday, December 4th, incorrectly stated that the Repealing and Amending (Second) Bill, 2014 had been passed. The Bill was discussed on December 4th, but passed today.