Budget session of Parliament ends with fewer disruptions, more debate

New Delhi, Aug 14: The Budget session of Parliament, the first of the Narendra Modi government, ended today reflecting the changed political reality with fewer disruptions and adjournments, and more debates and discussions unlike in the recent past.

The stark contrast between the functioning of the new Lok Sabha and the earlier one could be gauged from the fact that this time the House ran for 167 hours as against 19 hours and 36 minutes during the budget session of 2013. Both, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die marking completion of the budget session.

Besides the maiden General Budget and the Railway Budget of the BJP-led NDA coalition, the highlights of the month-long session was the passage of the landmark National Judicial Appointments Commission bill and the SEBI bill.

Several other bills were passed in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha including the one seeking to clear legal hurdles in the appointment of former TRAI chief Nripendra Misra as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. Parliament also cleared the budget for Delhi, which is currently under President's rule. In the Lok Sabha, a total of 13 bills were passed.

Before the passage of the Finance Bill, the Lok Sabha scrutinised the demands for grants of four ministries unlike in the recent years where the sessions were marred by disruptions. While Lok Sabha ran for 167 hours, the Rajya worked for 142 hours spread over 27 days.

Although the Lok Sabha lost about 14 hours due to disruptions but it more than made up by sitting extra for 28 hours and 10 minutes. In Rajya Sabha 34 hours were lost due to interruptions and adjournments but it was made up by late sittings and skipping lunch recess accounting for 38 hours.

PTI