RS to take up Insurance Bill on Thursday

The government’s reforms drive, which had hit a roadblock yesterday with the demand for key legislations to be sent to select panels, got a major relief today after a multi-party meeting. The report by the respective panels is likely to come by March 18, which means that the government still has two days before the recess to try and push these through parliament and perhaps not re-promulgate these two ordinances.Moreover, the Motor Vehicles Act was passed by the upper house.Today was a much more productive day in the parliament, especially in the Rajya, where the Motor Vehicles Act was cleared, the Mining and Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR) and the coal bill were sent to a select panel, which will give the report by March 18. However, the question now is what happens after March 18th? The government could pass the bill before March 20 when the house goes for recess or it could extend the session by a day or two to pass these both, MMDR and the coal bills. According to D Raja of CPI and the Mines Minister there is no problem of both these key legislations getting passed by the upper house once the select panel gives their report.So, while the mines and the coal bill will most likely be cleared during this part of the Budget session, tomorrow the Insurance bill will be taken up in Rajya Sabha and will most likely be cleared by the upper house. However, there is a big question mark over land bill because both allies and opposition are not comfortable with this bill and in Rajya Sabha it will definitely come up and then it will be sent to a select panel. We don’t know what will be the duration of that particular select panel.However this entire strategy of the government of bringing in ordinances and then bringing in all these ordinances through the Lok Sabha route has not left a good impression amongst both allies and both opposition.