The Rajya Sabha held elections for the post of Deputy Chairman on Thursday. NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh of the JD(D)S was elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Singh won with 125 votes against the Opposition’s B K Hariprasad, who polled 105 in the House. The post for Deputy Chairman in the Upper House had been lying vacant since PJ Kurien retired on July 1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was present to cast his vote, took to Twitter to congratulate Singh on his win. “An accomplished writer, journalist and active Parliamentarian, I am sure he will further enrich Parliamentary proceedings in his new role,” he said.
On Thursday, Lok Sabha approved the amendments to the Triple Talaq bill which will be heard in the Upper House today. The Lower House passed the National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Bill, 2017 and held discussion over The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
Hours after Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha was also adjourned sine die. Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu gave a summary of key developments during the whole session which began on July 18. However, he was not satisfied with the productivity of the House during the session.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu gives stock of developments during the Monsoon Session. Today is the last day of the current session (Monsoon) of Parliament which started on July 18.
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The Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018 is being discussed in the Rajya Sabha. Bhubaneswar Kalita of INC speaking on the matter.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018 taken up in Rajya Sabha. A motion in this regard was moved by Minister of State for Corporate Affairs PP Chaudhary. The minister is currently speaking in the bill under consideration.
Tiruchi Siva of DMK speaks on the situation of widows in the country, with special reference to women in Vrindavan. Before this, a resolution regarding the need to implement uniform reservation system in the country was negated after voting. Meanwhile, Siva says the widows in the country have challenging lives as they are denied access to public places.
After a voting on Private Members' Business (Resolutions)- regarding the need to implement uniform reservation system in the country, the resolution which was moved by Uttar Pradesh SP leader Vishambhar Prasad Nishad, was negated.
Ravi Shankar Prasad intervenes, says as per norm, division doesn't takes place on any resolution in the House on Friday. After this, RS Deputy Chairman announced there is no directive on stopping a voting on a resolution when it has been already decided. Desh Deepak Verma, Seceretary-General, explained the voting process on Resolution, afterwards.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman asks Uttar Pradesh SP leader Vishambhar Prasad Nishad if he wants voting on Private Members' Business (Resolutions). The latter speaks in affirmative.
Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot speaking on Private Members' Business (Resolutions)- regarding the need to implement uniform reservation system in the country, in Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha has been adjourned sine die. Today is the last day of monsoon session in Parliament.
Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan spoke on bills and amendments taken up in the current monsoon session as it came to a close. The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die.
After Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's speech in the lower house, Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018 passed.
Private Members' Business (Resolutions)- regarding the need to implement uniform reservation system in the country.
Chairman Venkaiah Naidu says two bills will be taken up after the discussion over the Private Members' Bill and triple talaq bill will not be discussed as planned due to no unity of the House over the said bill.
Chairman Venkaiah Naidu reconvenes Rajya Sabha proceedings. Private Members' (Business) Resolutions is under discussion in the House.
Chairing the Lok Sabha Kalraj Mishra is presiding has resumed the second-half of the session. Discussion over The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018 is being held in the Lok Sabha. Union Minister of State for the Law and Justice P P Choudhary speaks on the bill. The bill includes provisions to establish an Arbitration Council of India (ACI).
On the last day of the monsoon session today, varied issues were discussed in the Lok Sabha ranging from proper health facilities, blood banks, lack of technicians to the issuance of Aadhaar for opening bank accounts for girls in Jharkhand. Amongst other issues, issues relating to curb drug overdose in Punjab, unemployment in Uttar Pradesh, blood deficiency disabilities were also taken up in the House.
In case you missed it, Lok Sabha yesterday passed a bill to allow non-resident Indians (NRI) to vote in elections through a proxy. After a brief discussion, the Lower House passed a bill amending the Representation of the People Act. Union Minister for Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad moved a motion to pass the bill and addressed the concern of NRIs inability to vote in elections.
The amendment bill was opposed wit concerns with the reliability of the proxy voting for the NRI. Another important question was raised by Shiv Sena as the Constitution allows a person to case a single vote in elections, how would the proxy receive a chance to vote again and for how many NRIs will a single proxy be able to vote.
Read| Parliament monsoon session: Lok Sabha passes Bill to allow NRIs to vote by proxy
After preceding over the zero hour, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourns Lok Sabha till 2 pm
If you are joining us now, triple talaq bill will most likely be taken up in Rajya Sabha post-adjournment at 2:30 pm today. Amendments to the bill had received an approval in the Union Cabinet yesterday.
The Triple Talaq bill was introduced in the Winter Session, 2017 after the landmark 3-2 verdict of the Supreme Court which had set aside the old practice of triple talaq, where Muslim men divorced their wives by uttering talaq three times in quick succession.
The apex court last year had stated triple talaq as 'void and invalid'. Former Chief Justice of India J S Khehar had put the ball in the government's court to bring a legislation in six months governing marriage and divorce in the Muslim community. In a 395-page the Supreme Court order said: “In view of the different opinions recorded by a majority of 3:2, the practice of ‘talaq-e-biddat’ – triple talaq is set aside.”
The government has circulated amendments to the triple talaq bill for Rajya Sabha sitting at 2:30 pm.
Read| Triple talaq FIR only by victim, blood relatives
Lok Sabha yesterday held lengthy discussions over four bills related to Goods and Services Tax (GST). Finance Minister Piyush Goyal told the House that on nearly 400 goods and 68 services, GST has been reduced in the past one year. Goyal also explained that tax collection would not reduce with tax reduction of tax rates, rather lower tax rates would improve compliance and enhance revenue collection.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge took a dig at the government stating that it did not know how to implement GST and as a result industry sector has suffered.
Read| Discussion on four GST-related bills gives way to exchange of barbs
Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill has been introduced in Lok Sabha. It amends several Acts to remove leprosy as grounds for divorce.
Chairman Venkaiah Naidu resumed the House at 12 pm, however, as the members of the House continued the uproar, Naidu adjourned the proceedings till 2:30 pm.
Triple talaq bill and other bills are likely to be discussed post-adjournment.
Deputy Chairman has adjourned the House till noon due to the constant uproar. Amidst intense uproar in the Rajya Sabha CPI member Binoy Viswam raises the issue of Kerala's southwest monsoon which has destructed life in the state claiming lives of 26 people.
Stating the situation as "national tragedy", Viswam says "This is the first time Kerala is facing such a hardship. National tragedy. He further requests Indian government to come forward in support to the Kerala government. "Kerala is demanding help from you," said Viswam.
Sonia Gandhi joined the protests over the Rafael deal outside Parliament.Delhi: Sonia Gandhi at the protest by Opposition in Parliament premises over
The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018, Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 and The Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018 will be listed in the Lok Sabha.
An uproar is caused on the issue of the Rafale deal. INC member Anand Sharma raised the issue of the Rafael deal creating an uproar from the Opposition.
Telugu Desam Party MPs continue to stage a protest demanding special status for the state of Andhra Pradesh, during the Monsoon session of Parliament.
(Express Photo by Praveen Jain)
Chairman Vankaiah Naidu with Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh plants trees at the Parliament prior to the sitting.
(Express photos by Praveen Jain)
Welcome to the Parliament Live blog. Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh begins the last monsoon session.