The Winter Session of Parliament Set to Begin in December

The Winter Session of Parliament is set to commence on December 4 and will run till December 22, comprising 15 sittings spread over 19 days. This year, the session has been deferred to December due to the ongoing state assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram. Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, expressed his anticipation for discussions on important legislative business during the session.

An interesting highlight of this session will be the announcement of the assembly election results on December 3 for the five states mentioned earlier. This marks the first full session in the new Parliament building, which was inaugurated during a Special Parliament Session in September. During that session, the historic women's reservation bill was passed, setting an important precedent for gender equality in politics.

Expectations are high as three key bills, aiming to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Evidence Act, are likely to be taken up for consideration during this Winter Session. Additionally, the bill concerning the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners may also be discussed. Previously introduced in the Monsoon session, the bill did not progress further amid opposition protests and concerns from former Chief Election Commissioners. The government seeks to equalize the status of the CEC and ECs with that of the cabinet secretary, aligning it with the recognition given to a Supreme Court judge.

Amidst the various legislative matters to be addressed, the Winter Session of Parliament promises significant debates and crucial decision-making. Stay tuned for updates on the session as it unfolds.