Parliament proceedings live updates | Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day

The Lok Sabha on December 6 passed a Bill that seeks to accord special status to six more institutes of pharmaceutical education and research as well as set up a council for these institutes

The Lok Sabha on December 6 passed a Bill that seeks to accord special status to six more institutes of pharmaceutical education and research as well as set up a council for these institutes Expressing regret over the Nagaland firing incident, Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday assured both the Houses of Parliament that a special investigation team (SIT) will complete its probe within a month and said that all agencies must ensure that such incidents do not recur while undertaking operations against insurgents.Making a statement first in the Lok Sabha and then in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Shah said the government is taking steps to ensure peace in the region and was closely monitoring the evolving situation that “continues to be tense but under control”.On the seventh day of the winter session, the Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on after repeated stoppages as opposition members continued to protest demanding the revocation of suspension of 12 MPs. The High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on November 30, 2021 by the Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju.Here are the latest updates:Lok Sabha | 5.45 pmTalking on the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, YSRCP MP Vanga Geethaviswanath points out at the lack of women judges in the judiciary system. She also talks about the lack of judges belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe. She bats for appropriate reservation policy to make judiciary more inclusive. “There is a strong need to change the Collegium system as well,” the YSRCP MP from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh says. Lok Sabha | 5.40 pmThere are serious doubts about the functioning of the Supreme Court: Arvind Ganpat Sawant “Chief Justices like Ranjan Gogoi becomes the member of the Rajya Sabha, then I have serious doubts about the judgements delivered by the apex court,” the Shiv Sena MP says. “What happened in Maharashtra? In our Legislative Council, we (State Government) had recommended 10 to 12 names about eight months ago, but those names have not yet been cleared. Where is justice,” he asks. I support the bill, but teachers’ pension should be prioratised too, he concludes.Lok Sabha | 5.30 pmArvind Ganpat Sawant, Shiv Sena MP from Mumbai South, welcomes the bill. “If you’re thinking of increasing the pension of the judges, it’s a good move, but what about the pension of teachers,” he asks talking on the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill.  “If teachers are not happy, the next generation cannot flourish,” the Shiv Sena MP says.Mr. Sawant further asks the Government, “what about the pending cases?” “In our country, poor people only get taarekh par taarekh (one date after another),” the Shiv Sena MP says asking the Government of measures taken in this regard. “With the number of pending cases we have, the Collegium should have a waiting-list,” he says. “Are the four pillars of democracy really independent,” he asks. People associated with certain ideology are taking positions in all the four pillars, he alleges. Lok Sabha | 5.20 pmP.P. Chaudhary, MoS Law & Justice, says 400 judges have been appointed in the last two years. Kalyan Banerjee responds asking about the number of vacancies. “It’s your job to know the vacancies Mr. Chaudhary,” the TMC MP says.Mr. Banerjee says four judges had made a press-conference highlighting the plight of the justice system. “Then one of them went on to become the CJI and after retirement, he became a Rajya Sabha member,” he says, asking the Collegium to reconsider its methods. “Do not violate the orders of the courts. You’re the Central Government, you cannot violate court orders,” the TMC MP says. Lok Sabha | 5.10 pmJustice delivery system facing severe challenges, says TMC MP Kalyan BanerjeeKalyan Banerjee, TMC MP from Serampore in West Bengal, says there are 5.4 crore pending in India. In the last 2 years, India has added 23 pending cases every minute, he says speaking on the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill. Today, our justice delivery system face severe challenges, he says. 5.8 Million cases are pending before the High Courts, he says, adding “in Rajasthan alone, more than five lakh cases are pending in the High Court”. What has happened to the fast-track courts, he asks, pointing out that several cases are pending before the fast-track courts. The Colloegium recommend lawyers who are close to the Bharatiya Janata Party, the TMC MP alleges. There are three women lawyers whose names were recommended, but they were never made the judges, he says. Is the Central Government not violating Article 144 of the Constitution, he asks. Lok Sabha | 4.50 pmDo not interfere with the judicial system: DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran Speaking on the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, DMK MP from Chennai Central, said that the ruling dispensation is trying to influencing the judiciary. He requested the Government to “not interfere with the judiciary system”. Lawyer born in Delhi have the access to the Supreme Court, but those from smaller places do not, the DMK MP says, adding, “this is not equality”. There are only five judges from the Scheduled Tribe community, he says. Everyone should feel they are a part of the system, he adds. We’ve faith in the judicial system, but the recent developments have cast a doubt in the general populace, he says pointing out that the judges who deliver verdict in favour of the Government are included in the Government after retirement. Lok Sabha | 4.40 pmWhat is the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021?The High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021 was introduced in the Lok Sabha today.The Bill seeks to amend: (i) the High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1954, and (ii) the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958. These Acts regulate the salaries and conditions of service of the judges of High Courts and the Supreme Court of India.Additional quantum of pension or family pension: Under the Acts, all retired judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts and their family members are entitled to pension or family pension.  They are also entitled to an additional quantum of pension or family pension when they attain a certain age in accordance with a specified scale.  The scale contains five age brackets (with minimum age of 80, 85, 90, 95, and 100 years), and the additional quantum increases with age (from 20% to 100% of the pension or family pension).  The Bill clarifies that a person will be entitled to the additional pension or family pension from the first day of the month in which they complete the minimum age under the concerned age bracket.  – PRSLok Sabha | 4.30 pmP.P. Chaudhary, BJP MP from Pali (Rajasthan), requests the Government to revisit the process of appointment of judges.  Rajya Sabha | 4.15 pmOpposition Rajya Sabha MPs to protest on WednesdayAll Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs will protest against “violation of the Constitution and Rules of Procedure” on Wednesday, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh tweeted. Tomorrow all Opposition MPs of Rajya Sabha will sit in front of the Gandhi statue for the entire day in solidarity with the 12 MPs suspended for the entire session in violation of the Constitution and Rules of Procedure. pic.twitter.com/RzJjoXZMH1— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 7, 2021 Lok Sabha | 3.40 p.m.Congress MP Shashi Tharoor raises the issue of the retirement age of judges of the top courts. He also makes a note of the alarming number of pending cases in the courts. The earlier a judge retires, the more vulnerable he or she might be to the changing rules of the govt. of the day, says Mr Tharoor. After a couple of MPs raise objections, the speaker A Raja cautions Mr Tharoor not to bring up cases as examples which haven’t been resolved in courts yet.Rajya Sabha | 3.15 pmRajya Sabha adjourned for the dayRajya Sabha has been adjourned to 11 a.m. on December 8, 2021. This was shortly after proceedings resumed at 3 pm. There was a lot of commotion after a few MPs raised the issue of the suspended MPs being asked to apologise.Lok Sabha | 2.35 p.m.After the Zero Hour, speaker NK Premachandran has announced that the Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 3.30 p.m.Rajya Sabha | 2.10 p.mRS adjourned againThe Rajya Sabha, which was supposed to resume at 2 p.m, has been adjourned till 3 p.m. It was adjourned within 8 minutes as Opposition continued to raise the issue of suspension of 12 MPs.Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya introduced the ART and Surrogacy Bill.Lok Sabha | 2:01 pmBhartruhari Mahtab, BJD (Cuttack) appeals for the government to bring in Uniform Civil Code.Lok Sabha | 1:22 pmAgatha K. Sangma, NPP (Tura) requests that the government repeal AFSPA in light on the recent killings in Nagaland.Lok Sabha | 1:02 pmHema Malini, BJP (Mathura) speaks about increasing cases of animal cruelty in the country and says that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is a six decade old act and requests that the government strengthen the Act.Lok Sabha | 12:48 pmAdhir Ranjan Chowdhury, INC, (Baharampur) talks about the NEET-PG counselling delay.Lok Sabha | 12:46 pmTalari Rangaiah, YSRCP (Anantapur) talks about the importance of caste-based census. He informs the House that the Andhra Pradesh government has decided to conduct a caste-based census in their State.Lok Sabha | 12:44 pmDr. Veerswamy seeks interim relief to Tamil Nadu and also brings to the notice of the House the damage caused by monsoon in southern StatesLok Sabha | 12:23 pmSuresh Kodikunnil, INC (Mavelikkara) brings the issue of safety of women in Uttar Pradesh to the House.Lok Sabha | 12:16 pmTRS to boycott winter sessionWe got contradictory and ambiguous reply from the government on the paddy procurement policy. For a week and a half we waited for a comprehensive response from the government. But there is no point talking to a wall. So we are boycotting the entire session”, says K. Keshav Rao, Telangana Rashtra Samithi.Lok Sabha | 12:10 pmRahul Gandhi, INC (Wayanad) points to a list of names of the 700 farmers who died during the protests and requests that the government pay compensation and give government jobs to their family members.Lok Sabha | 12:02 pmQuestion Hour comes to an end in Lok Sabha. Papers are being laid on the table.Lok Sabha | 11:57 amDayanidhi Maran, DMK (Chennai Central) asks the Union Home Minister why the NCB treats drug addicts as criminals and asks the ministry to provide survey data.Dr. Kumar says that he will send across a written reply to the member.Lok Sabha | 11:52 amPravesh Sahib Singh, BJP (West Delhi) asks whether the Union Home Ministry has collaborated with the Delhi government to curb drug use among children.Dr. Virendra Kumar, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment replies that the ministry has started a ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ to reduce drug consumption among children. He also adds that the ministry is issuing grants to NGOs working on helping addicts recover. He also notes that a helpline (14446) has been created to help addicts recover and create awareness among people.Lok Sabha | 11:47 amGurjeet Singh Aujla, INC (Amritsar) asks whether the Ministry has any plan in creating a sports academy in Amritsar and notes that the people of Punjab have contributed immensely in bringing laurels to India in Olympics. Mr. Thakur says that sports is a State subject and that he will give the list of projects to the member.Lok Sabha | 11:28 amOn quality of RoadsShyam Singh Yadav, BJP (Uttar Pradesh) asks whether Ministry of Rural Development will investigate the quality of roads being laid in U.P..MoS Rural Development says that they will investigate.Lok Sabha | 11:22 amOn Sports UniversityPrasun Banerjee, AITC (West Bengal) inquires about the details of ‘Sports University’ promised in Manipur. Anurag Thakur, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports replies that India has won the most number of medals in Olympics and Paralympics  this year and adds that ‘Mission Olympic Cell’ chooses elite athletes to give them good quality training. Says that the construction of the Sports University got delayed due to COVID-19 and promises that the University will be completed soon.Lok Sabha | 11:11 amQuestion Hour in Lok SabhaQuestion Hour begins in Lok Sabha. Members of Lok Sabha are raising questions concerning Self-Help Groups.Rajya Sabha | 11:07 amRajya Sabha adjourned till 2:00 p.m.Rajya Sabha adjourned to meet at 2:00 pm. The adjournment came just five minutes after the session for the day began.Lok Sabha | 11:06 amOpposition members raise slogans in Lok Sabha.11:00 amParliament resumesBoth Houses of Parliament resume for the seventh day of winter session. Question Hour begins in Lok Sabha. Papers are being laid on the table in Rajya Sabha.Lok Sabha | 10:10 amRahul Gandhi gives an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha over Farmers’ issueMr. Gandhi says 700 farmers have sacrificed their lives. And despite the repeal of the farm laws, farmers have been seeking justice and raising other issues affecting the fundamentals of agriculture.9:40 amLegislative Business for December 7, 2021 is as follows:Lok Sabha:Bills for consideration and passing:The High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021.Rajya Sabha:Bills for consideration and passing:The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021.The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2020.9:35 amLok Sabha nod for Bill on pharma institutes, researchThe Lok Sabha on Monday passed a Bill that seeks to accord special status to six more institutes of pharmaceutical education and research as well as set up a council for these institutes.The current bill, which will amend the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Act, 1998, that established the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), at Mohali in Punjab, will encourage high quality research as it accords the status of Institutions of National Importance to six more institutes at Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Hajipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Rae Bareli.Replying to the debate on the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya countered the Opposition over a range of health issues including ‘vaccine hesitancy’.9:30 amDay 6 recapThe Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was introduced in the Lok Sabha.The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (Amend) Bill, 2021 was passed in the Lok Sabha.Home Minister Amit Shah gave a statement in the Lok Sabha regarding the Nagaland incident. His address in the Rajya Sabha was disrupted as the proceedings were adjourned for the day due to continuous protest by Opposition members over the suspension of 12 MPs.