19-Day Parliament's Winter Session To Begin On December 4, Says Pralhad Joshi

Parliament Winter Session: The winter session of Parliament will begin on December 4 and end on December 22. The bills to replace the three criminal laws could be introduced in this session.

Parliament Winter Session: The new Parliament building saw its first session on September 19 this year. ( Image Source :PTI )

The Winter Session of Parliament will start on December 4 and will continue till December 22. The 19-day session will have 15 sittings, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi. "Amid Amrit Kaal, looking forward to discussions on Legislative Business and other items during the session," he posted on X.

The Winter session has been scheduled barely two months after the special session that was held in September. Only one Bill — Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam — was passed during the special session of the five bills tabled for discussion. The bill became an act on September 28 after President Droupadi Murmu signed her approval, paving the way for 33% reservation for women in Parliament and assemblies.

Ahead of the special session, speculation was rife that the government would try to push through a Bill concerning the use of "Bharat" only and not India for our country. Another speculation was that the Centre would try to pass a bill on 'one nation, one election' policy. However, none of them were tabled. 

Now, with a committee to examine the idea of the 'one nation, one election', the winter session could see a proposal in this regard.

The three bills to replace criminal laws in India could also be tabled during Parliament's Winter session. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023, the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 and the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023 have been proposed to replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Indian Evidence Act, 1972 and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The bills were adopted earlier this week by the Parliamentary Committee of Home Affairs.

The Bill on the appointment of chief election commissioner and election commissioners, which was tabled during the special session, may also be tabled in the upcoming winter session. If the bill is passed, the status of the CEC and ECs will change to that of the Cabinet Secretary. At present, they enjoy a Supreme Court judge's status.