New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday by Chairman M. Hamid Ansari, who called the session “highly productive”.
Ansari, who has on more occasions than one asked members to introspect following frequent disruptions that had marred previous sessions, appeared happy with the business transacted by the house in this monsoon session.
“I am glad to say the session was highly productive. There were debates of national concern and discussions on many subjects,” Ansari said in his valedictory remarks.
“Various procedural devises were effectively used to raise issues, reflect public sentiments and legislate through constructive debates,” he said.
The upper house had 20 sittings, during which it worked for more than 112 hours, the chairman noted.
Ansari also highlighted that 300 starred questions were raised and 333 supplementary questions were taken up. He called it an “interesting facet”.
“It is heartening to know that almost all parties got opportunities to raise supplementaries and participate in the question hour,”
The session saw 120 zero hour submissions, of which 21 were instantly responded to by ministers, and 91 special mentions.
The house passed 14 government bills, including the constitutional amendment bill for introducing Goods and Services Tax, a bill for compensatory afforestation fund, and one to extend maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks.
The monsoon session of parliament started on July 18.
IANS