RAJYA SABHA

Parliamentary Bulletin
PART - I
(TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY SECOND SESSION)
No. 5521] MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020
Brief Record of the Proceedings of the Meeting of the Rajya Sabha held
on the 14th September, 2020

3-00 p.m.
1. National Anthem

National Anthem was played.

3-01 p.m.
2. Oath or Affirmation
The following Members made and subscribed oath/affirmation and
took their seats in the House:—

ASSAM
1. Shri Ajit Kumar Bhuyan

CHHATTISGARH
2. Shrimati Phulo Devi Netam

JHARKHAND
3. Shri Shibu Soren

KERALA
4. Shri M.V. Shreyams Kumar

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 40614
MAHARASHTRA
5. Dr. Fauzia Khan

MEGHALAYA
6. Dr. Wanweiroy Kharlukhi
TAMIL NADU
7. Shri N.R. Elango
8. Shri Anthiyur P. Selvarasu
9. Shri Tiruchi Siva
TELANGANA
10. Dr. K. Keshava Rao
11. Shri K.R. Suresh Reddy
UTTAR PRADESH
12. Shri Syed Zafar Islam
13. Shri Jaiprakash Nishad
WEST BENGAL
14. Shrimati Arpita Ghosh
15. Shri Dinesh Trivedi

3-22 p.m.

3. Obituary References
The Chairman made *references to the passing away of :—
1. Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Former President of India and ex-Member;
2. Shri Beni Prasad Verma, sitting Member;
3. Shri M. P. Veerendra Kumar, sitting Member;
4. Shri Amar Singh, sitting Member;
5. Shri Hiphei (ex-Member);
6. Shri M V Rajasekharan (ex-Member);

*
Hon'ble Chairman read out a gist of the detailed Obituary References
prepared in respect of Sitting and Former Members from Sl. No. 2 to 18 and
eminent national personality at Sl. No. 19, due to paucity of time, but informed
the House that they will be deemed to have been read and form part of the
debates and records of the House.
 40615
7. Shri Sanatan Bisi (ex-Member);
8. Shri Basant Kumar Das (ex-Member);
9. Shri R. T. Gopalan (ex-Member) ;
10. Shri Bhabani Charan Pattanayak (ex-Member);
11. Shri Ajit P.K. Jogi (ex-Member);
12. Shrimati Saroj Dubey (ex-Member);
13. Shri Vishwa Bandhu Gupta (ex-Member);
14. Shri Bishnu Charan Das (ex-Member);
15. Shri Ram Awadesh Singh (ex-Member);
16. Shri Shyamal Chakraborty (ex-Member);
17. Shri Nandi Yellaiah (ex-Member);
18. Shri Narendra Kumar Swain (ex-Member); and
19. Pandit Jasraj, renowned Indian classical vocalist.
The House observed silence, all Members standing, as a mark of respect
to the memory of the departed.
3-41 p.m.
As a mark of respect to the memory of departed, the House was
adjourned for one hour.
The House adjourned and re-assembled at 4-41 p.m.
$
4-43 p.m.
4. Reference to the victims of natural calamities in different parts of
the country
The Chairman made a reference to the victims of natural calamities of
heavy rains, lightening strikes, landslide, floods and associated disasters in
different parts of the country, particularly in the States of Assam, Andhra
Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh,
Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal in the months of May to August, 2020, in
which more than 1000 persons lost their lives and over 1.5 crore people
affected adversely besides heavy damage to house, property, crops, and
infrastructure. He also referred to a massive landslide due to heavy downpour
in Idukki district of Kerala which claimed the lives of 65 people and inflicted
injury to 12 others.
The House observed silence, all Members standing, as a mark of
respect to the memory of those who lost their lives in these natural calamities.

$
From 4-41 p.m. to 4-43 p.m., some points were raised.
 40616
4-44 p.m.
5. Opening Remarks by the Chairman
The Chairman while making opening remarks inter-alia apprised the
Members of the special seating, technical and logistical arrangements made
and safeguards taken to ensure the conduct of the Session in a safe
environment.

5-00 p.m.
6. Observation by the Chair
The Chairman made an observation informing the House that the
sitting of the House from tomorrow, i.e., 15th September, 2020 to 1st October,
2020 will be from 9.00 am to 01.00 pm. Rule 180(5) of the Rules of
Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha provides that the
admitted Calling Attention shall be raised at 02.00 pm and at no other time
during the sitting of the House of the Council. In view of the change in time
of sitting of the House, it is not possible to take up the Calling Attention at
02.00 pm. Accordingly, the Calling Attention shall be raised in the House at
such time as may be decided. Similarly, Rule 180C(1) provides that the time
for submitting notices for Special Mention shall be up to 05.00 pm on a day
for raising the matter on the next day of the sitting. Again, in view of
changed timing, it has been decided that the time for submitting notices of
Special Mention shall be up to 12.00 noon on a day, for raising the matter on
the next day of sitting. Further, as the time of sitting is restricted to four hours
daily, those Members whose notices of Special Mentions have been admitted
should lay the approved text when called by the Chair.
5-01 p.m.
7. Felicitations by the Chair
The Chairman, on behalf of the whole House offered felicitations to
the Indian Chess Team led by Vidit Santosh Gujrathi and comprising of
Viswanathan Anand, Pentala Harikrishna, Aravindh Chithambaram, Nihal
Sarin, Praggnanandhaa R., Koneru Humpy, Dronavalli Harika, Bhakti
Kukarni, Vaishali R., Vantika Agarwal and Divya Deshmukh, for winning the
first ever Gold Medal and for being declared joint champions with Russia at
the FIDE Chess Olympiad, 2020, which was held online, from the 24 th of July
to 30th of August, 2020.
 40617
5-03 p.m.
8. Papers Laid on the Table
The following papers were laid on the Table:—
1. A statement (in English and Hindi) showing the Bills passed
by the Houses of Parliament during the Two Hundred and Fifty-first Session
of the Rajya Sabha and assented to by the President:—

1. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2020

2. The Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020
3. The Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Bill, 2020
4. The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2020
5. The Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2020
6. The Appropriation Bill, 2020
7. The Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2020
8. The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bill, 2020
9. The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2020
10. The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2020
11. The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2020

12. The Finance Bill, 2020

2. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Ordinances, under
sub-clause (a) of clause (2) of article 123 of the Constitution:—

(1) The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation of Certain

Provisions) Ordinance, 2020 (No.2 of 2020), promulgated by
the President on the 31st of March, 2020.

(2) The Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of

Parliament (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (No.3 of 2020),
promulgated by the President on the 7th of April, 2020.
 40618
(3) The Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Amendment)
Ordinance, 2020 (No.4 of 2020), promulgated by the President
on the 9th of April, 2020.

(4) The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (No.5

of 2020), promulgated by the President on the 22nd of April,
2020.

(5) The Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Ordinance,

2020 (No.6 of 2020), promulgated by the President on the 24 th
of April, 2020.

(6) The Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment)

Ordinance, 2020 (No.7 of 2020), promulgated by the President
on the 24th of April, 2020.

(7) The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020

(No.8 of 2020), promulgated by the President on the 5 th of
June, 2020.

(8) The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment)

Ordinance, 2020 (No.9 of 2020), promulgated by the President
on the 5th of June, 2020.

(9) The Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and

Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 (No.10 of 2020), promulgated
by the President on the 5th of June, 2020.

(10) The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on

Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 (No.11 of
2020), promulgated by the President on the 5 th of June, 2020.

(11) The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020

(No.12 of 2020), promulgated by the President on the 26 th of
June, 2020.

9. Unstarred Questions
Answers to Unstarred Question Nos. 1 to 160 were deemed as, laid
on the Table.
 40619
5-04 p.m.
10. Statements regarding Ordinances

1. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare,

Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences, laid on
the Table, a statement (in English and Hindi) explaining the circumstances
which had necessitated immediate legislation by the Epidemic Diseases
(Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.

2. Shri Nityanand Rai, Minister of State in the Ministry of Home

Affairs, laid on the Table, a statement (in English and Hindi) explaining the
circumstances which had necessitated immediate legislation by the Salaries
and Allowances of Ministers (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.

3. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare,

Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences, laid on
the Table, a statement (in English and Hindi) explaining the circumstances
which had necessitated immediate legislation by the Homoeopathy Central
Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.

4. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare,

Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences, laid on
the Table, a statement (in English and Hindi) explaining the circumstances
which had necessitated immediate legislation by the Indian Medicine Central
Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.

5-06 p.m.
11. Supplementary Demands For Grants, 2020-21

Shrimati Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance and Minister of

Corporate Affairs, laid on the Table, a statement (in English and Hindi)
showing the Supplementary Demands for Grants, 2020-21.
5-07 p.m.
12. Panel of Vice-Chairmen
The Chairman announced that the Panel of Vice-Chairmen has been
re-constituted w.e.f. from the 24th of July, 2020, with the following
Members:—
1. Shri Bhubaneswar Kalita;
 40620
2. Shrimati Vandana Chavan;
3. Shri Sukhendu Sekhar Ray;
4. Shri Surendra Singh Nagar;
5. Dr. L. Hanumanthaiah; and
6. Dr. Sasmit Patra

5-08 p.m.
13. Leave of Absence
1. Shri Sukhendu Sekhar Ray (West Bengal) was granted leave of
absence from the sittings of the House, from the 14th of September, 2020 to
the 1st of October, 2020 during the current (252 nd) Session.
2. Shri Subhasish Chakraborty (West Bengal) was granted leave of
absence from the sittings of the House, from the 14th of September, 2020 to
the 1st of October, 2020 during the current (252 nd) Session.

5-09 p.m.
14. Recommendations of the Business Advisory Committee
The Chairman announced the recommendations made by the Business
Advisory Committee in its meeting held on the 13th of September, 2020.

5-15 p.m.

15. Election of Deputy Chairman

(1) Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda moved the following Motion:—

"That Shri Harivansh be chosen as the Deputy Chairman of the

Rajya Sabha."

Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot seconded the Motion.

(2) Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad moved the following Motion:—

"That Prof. Manoj Kumar Jha be chosen as the Deputy Chairman

of the Rajya Sabha."

Shri Anand Sharma seconded the Motion.

 40621
(3) Shri Tiruchi Siva moved the following Motion:—

"That Prof. Manoj Kumar Jha be chosen as the Deputy Chairman

of the Rajya Sabha."

Shri Ahmed Patel seconded the Motion.

(4) Shri Javed Ali Khan moved the following Motion:—

"That Prof. Manoj Kumar Jha be chosen as the Deputy Chairman

of the Rajya Sabha."

Shri Jairam Ramesh seconded the Motion.

5-17 p.m.
The Motion moved by Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda was adopted.
5-18 p.m.
The Chairman declared that Shri Harivansh has been chosen as the
Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

5-19 p.m.
16. Felicitations to the Deputy Chairman
The following Leaders/Members felicitated Shri Harivansh on his
election as Deputy Chairman:—

5-19 p.m. 1. Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of the

Opposition
5-23 p.m. 2. Shri Derek O' Brien
5-25 p.m. 3. Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav
5-26 p.m. 4. Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
5-41 p.m. 5. Shri Prasanna Acharya
5-44 p.m. 6. Dr. K. Keshava Rao
5-47 p.m. 7. Shri V. Vijayasai Reddy
5-49 p.m. 8. Shri Tiruchi Siva
5-51 p.m. 9. Shrimati Vandana Chavan
5-53 p.m. 10. Shri Ram Chandra Prasad Singh
5-55 p.m. 11. Prof. Manoj Kumar Jha
5-56 p.m. 12. Shri Sanjay Raut
6-00 p.m. 13. Shri Satish Chandra Misra
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6-02 p.m. 14. Shri Elamaram Kareem
6-03 p.m. 15. Shri Binoy Viswam
6-05 p.m. 16. Shri Sanjay Singh
6-07 p.m. 17. Shri G.K. Vasan
6-08 p.m. 18. Shri Ramdas Athawale, Minister of State in the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
6-11 p.m. 19. Shri S.R. Balasubramoniyan
6-13 p.m. 20. Sardar Balwinder Singh Bhunder
6-14 p.m. 21. Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Leader of the
House
6-16 p.m.
The Chairman associated himself with the felicitations offered to
Shri Harivansh.
6-18 p.m.
Shri Harivansh thanked the Chairman, the Prime Minister, the Leader of
the House, the Leader of the Opposition and other Leaders/Members for the
felicitations.
6-31 p.m.
17. Government Motion — Adopted
Shri Pralhad Joshi, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Minister of
Coal and Ministry of Mines, moved the following motion:—
"Keeping in view that the current Session of Rajya Sabha is being
held in extra-ordinary circumstances prevailing due to
COVID-19 pandemic requiring maintenance of social distancing
and keeping the movement of Government officials and others
within the Parliament precincts to the bare minimum, this House
resolves that Starred Questions and Private Members' Business
may not be brought before the House for transaction during the
Session, and all relevant Rules on these subjects in the Rules of
Procedure and Conduct of Business in Rajya Sabha may stand
suspended to that extent"

6-32 p.m.
The amendment moved by Shri Derek O' Brien to the Motion was
negatived.
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
6-38 p.m.
The Motion, was thereafter, adopted.

6-39 p.m.
18. Matters raised with Permission
1. Shri P. Wilson raised a matter regarding need to abolish holding of
Uniform Entrance Examination to all medical educational institutions.
6-41 p.m.
2. Shrimati Phulo Devi Netam raised a matter regarding need to
include Chhattisgarhi language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.
6-43 p.m.
3. Shri P.L. Punia raised a matter regarding need to revoke changes
made in labour laws by States to stop exploitation of labourers.
6-46 p.m.
4. Shri Subhas Chandra Bose Pilli raised a matter regarding need for
Special Census for Backward Classes and establishment of a separate Ministry
to provide reservation for Backward Classes in Parliament and Legislature.
6-48 p.m.
5. Shri Jairam Ramesh raised a matter regarding need to withdraw
the Draft Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2020.
Shri Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change, Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Minister of Heavy
Industries and Public Enterprises, responded.
6-51 p.m.
6. Shri Harnath Singh Yadav raised a matter regarding need for a
law to control rising population.
6-53 p.m.
7. Shri Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar raised a matter regarding
situation arising out of making English a compulsory medium of instruction in
the schools of Andhra Pradesh.


From 6-34 p.m. to 6-38 p.m., some points were raised.
 40624
6-54 p.m.
19. Special Mention
Shri Kailash Soni laid on the Table of the House, a Special Mention
regarding need for Central assistance to States affected by floods due to heavy
rains.
6-55 p.m.

20. Messages from Lok Sabha — Reported

Secretary-General reported to the House, two messages from
Lok Sabha informing Rajya Sabha that the Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the
14th September, 2020:—
(a) has agreed without any amendment to the National
Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2020, which
was passed by Rajya Sabha at its sitting held on the
18th March,2020; and

(b) has agreed without any amendment to the National

Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, 2020, which was passed
by Rajya Sabha at its sitting held on the 18th March,2020.
6-56 p.m.
21. Government Bills — Introduced
(1) The Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Amendment)
Bill, 2020, was introduced Shri Nityanand Rai, Minister of State in the
Ministry of Home Affairs.
6-57 p.m.
(2) The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020, was
introduced by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare,
Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences.
6-58 p.m.
(3) The Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020,
was introduced by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare,
Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences.
 40625
(4) The Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill,
2020, was introduced by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family
Welfare, Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences.

6-59 p.m.
22. Government Bill — Under Consideration
The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020, as passed by Lok Sabha
Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of
the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Ministry of Civil Aviation
and Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, moved
motion for consideration of the Bill.
Shri Hardeep Singh Puri had not commenced his speech while
moving the Motion.
The discussion had not commenced.

7-00 p.m.
The House adjourned till 9-00 a.m. on Tuesday, the 15th September,
2020.

DESH DEEPAK VERMA,

Secretary-General