Barring the passage of the much-awaited Lokpal Bill, the entire Winter Session of Parliament was a washout, forcing the government to end the session two days ahead of the scheduled date of December 20.
However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath hinted that the House could be convened again as some of the important Bills were pending.
“We have adjourned the session sine die, we have not prorogued the session and it can be brought at a short notice. After talking to all parties, we will take a decision on this so that we can process with the strengthening of all anti-corruption efforts to which the government is committed,” Kamal Nath said. The minister said that the Whistleblowers’ Bill and Delivery of Services Bill that will give strength to the Lokpal Bill were also needed to be passed.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi also hinted that there were more anti-corruption Bills in the pipeline that needed to be passed.
Sources said that the session is likely to be convened in the third week of January as the UPA Government is expecting the Telangana Bill to be returned by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly by that time. Reminding the winter session in 2010, Proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were repeatedly adjourned over a host of issues since the session began on December 5. The Lok Sabha could not function even till Tuesday and the House saw legislative work on Wednesday when it passed the Lokpal Bill. The Rajya Sabha worked for two days - Tuesday and Wednesday - as it passed the Lokpal Bill and discussion on India’s position at WTO in Bali was held. The Constitution Amendment Bill for demarcation of the boundary with Bangladesh was also introduced in the House.
The Lok Sabha adjourned in the afternoon after passing the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2013. The Lok Sabha also passed the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and research (Amendment) Bill, 2013, without any discussion.
Though six Bills were introduced, only the Lokpal Bill was passed by both the Houses. All the pending Bills in the LS will lapse at the time of its dissolution.
■ In all, 126 Bills are pending in Parliament.
■ 54 Bills are pending in the Rajya Sabha and 72 Bills are pending in the Lok Sabha.
■ In this session, the Lok Sabha worked for 4 hours and 31 minutes (only 6 per cent of the scheduled time) and the Rajya Sabha for 11 hrs and 24 minutes (only 19 per cent of the scheduled time).