Lok Sabha adjourned sine die, a day ahead of schedule, after passing the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023. Rajya Sabha had already passed the Bill on December 12. The House also passed the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 via voice vote.
Meanwhile, three more Congress MPs Nakul Nath, Deepak Baij and D.K Suresh were suspended from the Lower House for misconduct. With this, the total number of members suspended from the Lower House rises to 146.
Also read: Lok Sabha passes Bills to replace British-era criminal laws
In the Rajya Sabha The Telecommunications Bill, 2023 was passed. The Upper House then took up the three criminal law Bills for discussion. The bills were then passed via voice vote. On December 20, the Lok Sabha passed the three amended Bills that seek to repeal and replace criminal laws and the omnibus Telecom Bill 2023 which will replace existing laws, including the 138-year-old Indian Telegraph Act.
Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha resumed proceedings with Opposition members continuing their protest. Members were heard chanting, “tanashahi nahi chalegi [dictatorship will not work],” in the House even as the Question Hour continued.
Also read: Parliament Winter Session Day 13 Updates
The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita Bill (BNSS) will replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860; the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill (BSS) will replace the Indian Evidence Act, 1872; and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita Bill (BNSSS) will replace the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. This criminal law reform brings terrorism offences into a general crime law for the first time, drops the crime of sedition, and makes mob lynching punishable by death.
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