Current Affairs June 2019 - Bills and Acts
1 - Triple Talaq Bill tabled in the very first session of Parliament in the NDA government
The second term of Narendra Modi government is likely to place the controversial Triple Talaq Bill in its very first session of Parliament. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Second Ordinance was promulgated on February 21, 2019.
An ordinance will lapse after six months of the promulgation. The bill should be passed by both sessions of Parliament within 45 days after the first sitting of Parliament.
The Modi government’s government in its first tenure has failed to get the Bill cleared in the Rajya Sabha as the Opposition opposed the criminality clause. Even after removing the clause the government could not table the Bill, owing to continuous disruptions.
Ordinance
The ordinance is a decree or law promulgated by a state or national government without the consent of the legislature.
Article 123 of the Constitution of India grants the President certain law-making powers to promulgate ordinances when either of the two Houses of Parliament is not in session. The governor of a state can also issue ordinances under Article 213 when the state legislative assembly is not in session.
Ordinances cease to operate either if Parliament/State assembly does not approve of them within six weeks of once both houses of the Parliament are in session, or if disapproving resolutions are passed by both Houses.
2 - The Union Cabinet approved two Medical Bills that was lapsed in the 16th Lok Sabha session
The Union Cabinet approved the two Medical Bills, Indian Medical Council (Amendment Bill), 2019, and the Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment Bill), 2019. Both the bills had lapsed in the 16th Lok Sabha session.
The Bills are to be reintroduced in the upcoming Parliament session.
Indian Medical Council (Amendment Bill), 2019
The Bill is aimed at bringing in accountability, transparency, and quality in the governance of medical education in the country. The bill will also provide for supersession of the Medical Council of India (MCI) for a period of two years from August 26, 2018.
The Board of Governors shall exercise the powers and functions of the MCI as assigned under the IMC Act, 1956. The Board of Governors (BoG) members will be increased from existing 7 to 12.
Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment Bill), 2019
The Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment Bill), 2019 is intended to extend the period for reconstitution of the Central Council from an existing period of one year to two years. Also, the tenure of the Board of Governors will be extended for a further period of one year with effect from May 17, 2019.
Dentists Act, 1948
The Centre has also approved the introduction of a Bill to amend the Dentists Act, 1948. The Bill aimed to make the Dental Council of India more effective. The Bill is expected to restructure the Dental Councils. Also, the representation of Central government members and elected members would no longer be made mandatory in the Dental Councils.
3 - Union Cabinet cleared NDIAC Bill, 2019 on institutionalised arbitration
The Union Cabinet has cleared the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) Bill, 2019, which provides for setting up of an independent and autonomous body for institutional arbitration.
It also aims to acquire and transfer the undertakings of International Centre For Alternative Dispute Resolution to New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) with effect from March 2 this year.
The Bill provides to replace and repeal the NDIAC Ordinance, 2019.
The proposed New Delhi International Arbitration Centre is headed by a chairperson, who has been a judge of the Supreme Court or a judge of a high court or an eminent person, having special knowledge and experience in the conduct or administration of arbitration.
4 - Fresh bill to ban Triple Talaq to be introduced in Lok Sabha
A fresh bill to ban the practice of instant triple talaq introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 is been listed in the Lok Sabha's agenda replace an ordinance
This is issued in February by the previous BJP-led NDA government.
The 16th Lok Sabha the previous bill had lapsed pending in the Rajya Sabha.
The Bill proposes to make the practice of instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat) a penal offence.
The new bill is a copy of the ordinance in force.
Under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, 2019
The divorcing through instant triple talaq is illegal, void and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband.
5 - Lok Sabha passed the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019
The Lok Sabha passed the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019 on 26 June. The amendment of sub-section (v) of Section 2 of the SEZ Act, 2005 will make a trust or any entity notified by the Central government eligible for consideration of grant of permission to set up a unit in special economic zones. The Bill aims at improving and encouraging more investments and introducing features including single-window clearance and to ease imports and exports.
Ordinance
The Bill will replace the ordinance promulgated in February 2019. The ordinance seeks to amend the definition of a person under the SEZ Act 2005, which will enable a trust to be considered for grant of permission to set up a unit.
Exports from SEZs rose 21% on year to Rs 7 lakh crore in FY19. As of March 31, there were 232 SEZs, of which 25 are multiproduct and the rest are sector specific, with 5,109 approved units.
6 - Lok Sabha passed the Homeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State, Ministry of AYUSH presented the Homeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Lok Sabha. It passed the Bill on 27 June. Once Rajya Sabha passes the Bill, it will replace the ordinance issued in the same regard by the previous government. This was the second bill to be passed in Lok Sabha, in the second term of NDA government, after the Special Economic Zone (Amendment) Bill 2019.
Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019
The Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019 enables the government to extend the tenure of the Board of Governors (BoGs) for a further period of one year, with effect from May 17, 2019. The BoGs have been entrusted with the affairs of the Central Homeopathy Council.
The Board of Governors constitutes of eminent and qualified homoeopathy doctors and eminent administrators.
The opposition parties opposed the Bill and demanded that the government should further examine the proposed legislation and provide supervision mechanism for homoeopathy and ayurvedic medical institutions.
Homeopathy Central Council Act, 1973
The Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 was enacted for the constitution of the Central Council of Homeopathy, along with the maintenance of the Central Register of Homeopathy and matters related to the field of homoeopathy.
The Act was amended and passed in December 2002 as Homoeopathy Central Council Amendment Act, 2002. The amendment was to make provisions and seek permission from the central government for the setting up of new colleges or starting new courses or increase the admissions in the existing colleges. Despite the amendment many homoeopathic colleges are still struggling to meet the required standards necessary for quality education.
7 - Rajya Sabha cleared the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019
The Rajya Sabha cleared the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019 on June 27.that seeks to allow trusts to set up units in special economic zones, a day after the Lok Sabha passed the measure. The Bill will replace the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019, promulgated in March. The amendment of sub-section (v) of Section 2 of the SEZ Act, 2005 will make a trust or any entity notified by the Central government eligible for consideration of grant of permission to set up a unit in special economic zones. The Bill aims at improving and encouraging more investments and introducing features including single-window clearance and to ease imports and exports.
