RS may adjourn sine die today

Considering the safety of parliamentarians as the number of coronavirus cases increases across the country, the government has recommended that the Rajya Sabha be adjourned sine-dine. The upper house was originally scheduled to be held till October 1.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V. Muraleedharan informed the Upper House, "I have to inform the members that the government has decided to recommend the adjournment of the House sine die today. But some important legislative business passed by the Lok Sabha has to be disposed of before adjournment of the House sine die."

The House has been witnessing a boycott from the Opposition. The benches were empty even as the government passed important Bills in the House yesterday.

As all the major Bills, including those replacing ordinances, were passed by both the Houses on Tuesday, political party sources and secretariat officials indicated that both the Houses will curtail their proceedings on today—a week before the scheduled conclusion of the session.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's special announcement to hold the lower House proceedings at 6 p.m. today—three hours later than the scheduled time—also signaled the plan to cut short the session which was set to conclude on October 1.

"I want to inform the members that the proceedings of the House will begin from 6 p.m. on Wednesday," Birla announced after the House unanimously passed the Jammu and Kashmir Official Language Bill, 2020.

Sources said the Lower House is likely to adjourn its proceedings after taking up a few matters, including Zero hour

(With agency inputs).