Lok Sabha records 74 per cent productivity, passes 18 bills in Winter Session with 100 MPs suspended 

Speaker Om Birla said on Thursday that the Lok Sabha which adjourned sine die a day ahead of schedule, achieved a notable 74% productivity during the Winter Session of Parliament. Providing insights in his concluding remarks, Birla highlighted that the House conducted 14 sittings and dedicated a total of 61 hours and 50 minutes to deliberations. During the session, the Lok Sabha successfully passed 18 bills, a significant achievement that includes key legislations such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Sanhita. Notably, these bills aim to replace the existing statutes governing the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act. The Parliament’s commitment to legislative work during this session demonstrates its dedication to addressing crucial issues and contributing to the country’s legal framework. The bills passed in the Lok Sabha also include the Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Telecommunications Bill, 2023. Birla mentioned that 55-starred questions were answered orally during the Session. A total number of 265 matters were taken up under Rule 377, he added. The speaker brought to the attention of the House that the department-related Standing Committees of the Lok Sabha presented 35 reports. During the session, 33 statements were made under Direction 73A and a total number of 34 statements, including three statements given by the minister of parliamentary affairs in connection with parliamentary business, were made. The speaker informed that as many as 1,930 papers were laid on the Table of the House. During the session which began on December 4, 100 MPs, including three on Thursday, were suspended from the Lower House for unruly behaviour and misconduct. In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, two persons jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during the Zero Hour, released yellow smoke from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by some MPs. With inputs from PTI.