Cabinet decides to extend the Budget session by 3 days

The Cabinet has decided to to extend the Budget session of the Lok Sabha by three days to try and pass some other Bills which have been passed by the Cabinet.

Several important bills like the Black Money Bill, Real Estate Bill and the controversial Land Acquisition Bill are yet to be cleared.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, at the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting, had sounded the party MPs that they should be prepared for an extension of the Lok Sabha beyond Friday, if required.

On Land Acquisition Bill, the government may send it to a joint panel of MPs. The government is yet to take a final call on tabling the Bill in the Lok Sabha. The finality on the Land Bill discourse will be seen in the monsoon session.

The Anti-Corruption Amendment Bill is scheduled to be taken up for discussion in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Union Minister Jitendra Singh will move the bill which is aimed at raising penalty for corruption to a maximum of seven years from the present five years. The bill also aims to provide protection to retired government employees.

Earlier in April, the Union Cabinet had given a go ahead to official amendments to the bill that provides for stricter punishment for the offences of bribery.

The current session of Lok Sabha ends on May 8, and that of Rajya Sabha on May 13. The session of the Upper House had also started three days later.

(With inputs from PTI)