25 Government Bills Pending in Rajya Sabha

The Rajya Sabha, as a continuing chamber, holds a unique position in the Indian parliamentary system. Unlike the Lok Sabha, it is not subject to dissolution, which means that bills introduced and pending in this House remain active until they are either passed or withdrawn by the government. Presently, there are 25 government bills awaiting resolution in the Rajya Sabha.

A Historic Perspective

One of the oldest draft legislations pending in the Upper House of Parliament is the Constitution (79th Amendment) Bill, 1992. This bill pertains to the adoption of a two-child norm for panchayat polls. It has been a matter of contention, with a lack of consensus among political parties in favor of the bill. This issue has persisted for decades, and despite being introduced in 1992, it remains unresolved.

A Range of Pending Bills

Among the 25 pending bills, there is a diverse range of legislative matters. Some of the noteworthy ones include:

• The Delhi Rent (Amendment) Bill, 1997: This bill seeks to regulate rent, repairs of rented premises, and eviction of tenants in the national capital.
• Amendments to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act: These aim to relax certain conditions for the appointment of regulators in the telecommunications sector.
• Provisions of the Municipalities (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Bill, 2001: Addressing issues related to local governance in scheduled areas.
• The Seeds Bill, 2004: Pertaining to the regulation of seed quality and trade.
• The Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Pharmacy Bill, 2005: Concerning the regulation of pharmacies in the field of Indian medicine and homeopathy.
• The Mines (Amendment) Bill, 2011: Focusing on amendments in mining regulations.
• The Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2011: Addressing labor-related issues.
• The Pesticide Management Bill, 2020: Dealing with regulations related to pesticides.

Recent Developments

Additionally, there are bills introduced more recently, such as The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023 and The Post Office Bill, 2023. These were introduced in the recently concluded monsoon session of Parliament.

While these bills cover a wide spectrum of subjects, their commonality lies in their significance for governance and policy in India. The pending bills await deliberation and decision by the members of the Rajya Sabha, highlighting the dynamic nature of the legislative process in the country.

Source: The Hindu