Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Source: PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Source: PTI)

THE NDA government on Tuesday managed to push through the contentious land acquisition bill in the Lok Sabha, but a united opposition made it clear that the path ahead for bills — especially those resulting out of ordinances — in the Rajya Sabha would hardly be smooth, and would be required to stand the test of parliamentary scrutiny.

In the BJP-dominated Lok Sabha, the government overruled objections and a walkout by Congress, Trinamool Congress, BJD, TRS, Samajwadi Party and the RJD on the bill. But the opposition closed ranks in the Rajya Sabha, and sprang a surprise by demanding that the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015, be referred to a select committee. The bill, passed by the Lok Sabha last week, was to replace the ordinance promulgated by the BJP government on January 12.

The land bill divided the NDA camp too. While the reservations of allies Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Lok Janshakti Party and Swabhimani Paksha were allayed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh in a meeting convened by Venkaiah Naidu, the Shiv Sena decided to abstain when the amendments moved by the opposition were put to vote in the Lok Sabha. The Raju Shetty-led Swabhimani Paksha moved an amendment, but did not press for a division.

The opposition’s argument in the Rajya Sabha was simple: key pieces of legislation which have not undergone the scrutiny of the standing committee have to be sent to the select committee.

“Bills passed in Lok Sabha using the tyranny of the majority without referring them to the respective standing committees should go to a select committee of Rajya Sabha,” CPI(M)’s P Rajeeve told The Indian Express. The decision to send the mines and minerals bill to a select committee came after more than six hours of debate. The composition and the time frame of the committee will be decided on Wednesday.

This stand will derail the government’s reform agenda as The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill and the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill passed by the Lok Sabha will hit the opposition wall in the Rajya Sabha. The coal bill, as well as the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, to be considered this week, will most likely be referred to select committees in the Rajya Sabha.

A select committee is an ad hoc committee appointed by the upper house to deliberate on a specific bill. Its composition, as well as the time frame in which the report has to be submitted, is decided by the house in consultation with the parties. For instance, the house had given the select committee almost four months to submit its report on the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill. The select committee’s composition will be stacked in favour of the opposition, but it is not necessary for the government to accept its recommendations.

Government sources said the Centre is exploring all options to ensure its reform initiatives are not stalled in the Rajya Sabha. It is expected that coal auctions would be concluded before the ordinance on coal lapses on April 5. Since an ordinance cannot be repromulgated when parliament is in session, the government may even prolong the Budget Session till the auctions are over.

The ongoing session is scheduled to continue till May 8, with a recess from March 20 to April 20. “The options before the government are to skip the recess, end the Budget Session before April 5 and request the President to prorogue the session to ensure that ordinances can be repromulgated,” said a source. If certain ordinances lapse, it would not necessarily affect the ministries’ functioning, the source added.

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