Govt lists Waqf and 15 other bills for Parliament winter session

The session will continue till December 20 and will have 19 sittings

For the winter session of Parliament commencing Monday, November 25, the government has listed 16 bills, including one to amend the Waqf Act. While five bills are listed for introduction and passing, 11 are there for consideration and passing.

The five new bills include Merchant Shipping Bill, Coastal Shipping Bill, Indian Ports Bill, Punjab Courts (Amendment) Bill and Rashtriya Sahkari Vishwavidalaya Bill.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, listed for consideration and passing, is currently under review by a joint committee of both Houses of Parliament, which is expected to submit its report during the winter session. Opposition members, however, are calling for an extension of time for the panel to complete its report.

Intense discussions are expected during the session, driven by opposition calls for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the allegations surrounding billionaire Gautam Adani.

Gautam Adani has been charged by US prosecutors for allegedly being part of a scheme to pay $265 million (about Rs 2,200 crore) bribe to Indian officials in exchange of favourable terms for solar power contracts.

Several opposition leaders have said that they will rake up the issue in the winter session.

The session will continue till December 20 and will have 19 sittings.