Parliament Monsoon Session 2023 ends with suspension of AAP MP Raghav Chadha, passage of key bills
Media Desk
The Parliament Monsoon Session 2023 ended on Friday with the suspension of AAP MP Raghav Chadha from the Rajya Sabha and the passage of key bills, including the Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023.
Chadha was suspended from the Rajya Sabha until the committee of privileges investigating the case against him submits its report. He was accused of ‘forging’ signatures of five Rajya Sabha MPs. The suspension period of AAP MP Sanjay Singh was also extended.
The Lok Sabha passed the Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023 by a voice vote, without a debate. The bills levy a 28 per cent tax on the full face value of bets in online gaming, casinos and horse race clubs.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced three Bills in Lok Sabha — the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023; Bharativa Nyaya Sanita Bill, 2023 and Bharativa, Sakshva Bill, 2023 — which are aimed at reforming the country’s criminal justice system. These Bills are aimed at replacing the existing 19th century Indian Penal Code, 1860, Criminal Procedure Code, 1898, and Indian Evidence Act, 1872. The existing Sedition laws would be repealed under the new Bill, Shah announced in LS. He also said that the Centre would introduce a provision of capital punishment in mob lynching cases.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament was marred by protests by the opposition parties over a number of issues, including the suspension of Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and the Pegasus snooping scandal. The session was also disrupted by the death of former President Pranab Mukherjee.
Despite the disruptions, the government managed to pass a number of key bills, including the GST amendment bills and the bills on criminal justice reform. The session also saw the passage of the National Medical Commission Bill, 2021, which sets up a new medical education regulator.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament is considered to be the most important session of the year, as it is the time when the government presents its legislative agenda for the year. The session is also important for the opposition parties, as it is their chance to hold the government accountable for its actions.
The 2023 Monsoon Session was a turbulent one, but it also saw the passage of some important bills. It will be interesting to see how the government and the opposition parties fare in the coming months, as they prepare for the next session of Parliament.
