Parliament Winter Session: The winter session of Parliament is set to commence on December 4 (Monday) a day after the declaration of assembly election results in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. As momentum gathers for the Lok Sabha 2024 elections, the assembly election results on December 3 are being seen as a precursor to what can be the next general elections. In light of that, the Centre is all geared up for its last winter session of parliament in this tenure. Certain key bills are in the pipeline which the Narendra Modi-led NDA government would like to clear in this upcoming session.


The government has listed 18 bills, including two to extend provisions of the Women's Reservation Act to Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry and three to replace the criminal laws, during the Session. The Winter Session of Parliament will continue till December 22.


According to a bulletin issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Wednesday, the Centre has also planned to introduce a bill to increase the strength of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly from 107 to 114 in an attempt to provide representation to Kashmiri migrants, displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Scheduled Tribes.


Besides the bills, the government has listed the first batch of supplementary demands for grants for 2023-24 for presentation, discussion and voting during the session.


Bills To Replace Criminal Laws


The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill that seek to replace the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act respectively have also been listed for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha, as reported by news agency PTI. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs examined the three bills and submitted its reports with dissent notes by opposition members.


The J&K Reorganization (Amendment) Bill Among New Bills Listed For Introduction In Lok Sabha 


During Parliament's winter session, several new bills are listed for introduction in Lok Sabha including the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill. The other new bills listed are The Boilers Bill, The Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, and The Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill.


The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill and The Central University (Amendment) Bill are also among the new bills.


The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill and The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill seek to extend provisions of the Women’s Reservation Act to J-K and Puducherry, respectively.


The Election Commission Bill, 2023


The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill proposes to set up a three-member committee led by the prime minister for appointing future chief election commissioners and election commissioners, and The Post Office Bill, introduced in the Rajya Sabha, have also been listed for the Winter Session.


The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill


The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, which seeks to simplify the registration process for periodicals and newspapers and do away with several penal provisions that led to the prosecution and imprisonment of publishers, and the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, which the Rajya Sabha approved, too have been listed for consideration and passage by the Lok Sabha.


Other Key Bills For Consideration  


The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, and The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill are also listed for consideration and passage during the winter session. Rajya Sabha has listed The Repealing and Amending Bill, which Lok Sabha approved for consideration and passage.