The Budget Session, 2009 of Parliament commenced on Thursday, the 2nd of July, 2009 and concluded on Friday, the 7th of August, 2009. The Session yielded a total of 26 sittings spread over 37 days.
2. The Session was mainly devoted to transaction of Financial Business relating to Railways, General Budgets and Budget relating to the State of Jharkhand for 2009-10. The Railway Budget was presented on 3rd of July, 2009 and the General Budget on 6th of July, 2009. General discussions on the Railways and General Budgets were held in both the Houses. The Lok Sabha also voted the Demands for Excess Grants for 2006-07 relating to General Budget. Appropriation Bill relating to this Demand was introduced, considered and passed by Lok Sabha and subsequently returned by Rajya Sabha. General discussion on Jharkhand Budget was also held in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Lok Sabha also discussed and voted the Demands for Grants relating to Jharkhand Budget for 2009-10 and related Appropriation Bill was introduced, considered and passed and subsequently returned by Rajya Sabha.
3. During the session, the two Houses considered and adopted the Statutory Resolutions seeking approval for extension of Proclamation issued by the President on 19.1.2009 under Article 356 of the Constitution, in relation to the State of Jharkhand, for a period of six months from 19.7.2009.
4. During the Session, Demands for Grants relating to the Railways was voted without discussion and the related Appropriation Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha and subsequently returned by Rajya Sabha. Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministries of: (i) Human Resource Development; (ii) Agriculture; (iii) Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution; (iv) Power; (v) Home Affairs; and (vi) Women and Child Development, were discussed and voted by Lok Sabha. Demands for Grants of the remaining Ministries/Departments which could not be discussed, were put to the vote of the House and were voted in full on 23rd of July, 2009. The Appropriation Bill relating to Demands for Grants (General) for 2009-10 was introduced, considered and passed by Lok Sabha and subsequently returned by Rajya Sabha.
5. During this period, the Rajya Sabha discussed the working of Ministries of (i) Health & Family Welfare; (ii) Social Justice & Empowerment; (iii) Communications & Information Technology; (iv) Road Transport & Highways; (v) External Affairs; and (vi) Environment & Forests.
6. The two Houses also considered and passed/returned the Finance (No. 2) Bill, 2009.
7. In Lok Sabha, four Short Duration Discussions under Rule 193 on: (i) Swine flu; (ii) Drought and floods; (iii) Issues arising out of Prime Minister’s recent visit to foreign countries; and (iv) Rise in prices of essential commodities were held. Besides, three Calling Attentions on: (i) Pollution in rivers and lakes; (ii) Export of non-basmati rice; and (iii) Large-scale loss of jobs due to retrenchment and closure of industries, were also discussed in Lok Sabha.
8. In Rajya Sabha, three Short Duration Discussions under Rule 176, were held on: (i) Measures to prevent ragging in the institutions of higher education; (ii) Increasing obscenity and vulgarity in television programmes; and (iii) Rise in prices of essential commodities. Besides, nine Calling Attentions on: (i) Swine flu; (ii) Depletion of the population of tigers; (iii) Disturbances of peace in North Cachar Hills district of Assam; (iv) Deteriorating financial condition of Air India; (v) Hike in price of petrol and diesel; (vi) Position of Monsoon and deficient rainfall in the country; (vii) Increasing incidents of so called honour killings and honour related crimes in the country; (viii) Large-scale loss of jobs due to retrenchment and closure of industries; and (ix) Availability of natural gas for power generation and other national priorities at affordable price throughout the country, were also discussed in Rajya Sabha.
9. During the Budget Session 17 Bills (16 in Lok Sabha and 1 in Rajya Sabha) were introduced. Lok Sabha passed 8 Bills and Rajya Sabha passed/returned 8 Bills. Total number of Bills passed/returned by both Houses of Parliament during the Session is 8. A list of Bills introduced/passed/returned is enclosed.
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LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS TRANSACTED DURING 2nd SESSEION OF FIFTEENTH LOK SABHA AND 217TH SESSION OF RAJYA SABHA (BUDGET SESSION, 2009)
I – BILLS INTRODUCED IN LOK SABHA
1. The Finance (No.2) Bill, 2009
2. The Appropriation (Railways) No.3 Bill, 2009
3. The Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2009
4. The Jharkhand Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2009
5. The Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2009
6. The Rubber (Amendment) Bill, 2009
7. The Life Insurance Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2009
8. The National Green Tribunal Bill, 2009
9. The Companies Bill, 2009
10. The Indian Trusts (Amendment) Bill, 2009
11. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Amendment) Bill, 2009
12. The Metro Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2009
13. The Workmen’s Compensation (Amendment) Bill, 2009
14. The Employees’ State Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2009
15. The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2009
16. The Land Port Authority of India Bill, 2009
II – BILLS PASSED BY LOK SABHA
1. The Appropriation (Railways) No.3 Bill, 2009
2. The Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2009
3. The Jharkhand Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2009
4. The Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2009
5. The Finance (No.2) Bill, 2009
6. The Constitution (One Hundred and Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2009
7. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2009
8. The Metro Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2009
III - BILLS INTRODUCED IN RAJYA SABHA
1. The Constitution (One Hundred and Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2009
IV - BILLS PASSED/RETURNED BY RAJYA SABHA
1. The Appropriation (Railways) No.3 Bill, 2009
2. The Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2009
3. The Jharkhand Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2009
4. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2008
5. The Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2009
6. The Finance (No.2) Bill, 2009
7. The Constitution (One Hundred and Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2009
8. The Metro Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2009
V - BILLS PASSED/RETURNED BY BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT
1. The Appropriation (Railways) No.3 Bill, 2009
2. The Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2009
3. The Jharkhand Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2009
4. The Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2009
5. The Finance (No.2) Bill, 2009
6. The Constitution (One Hundred and Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2009
7. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2009
8. The Metro Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2009
