Dr. Virender Kumar, the Union minister for social justice and empowerment, will introduce the Constitution (127th) Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
On Monday, the Lower House presented a constitutional amendment that seeks to reinstate governments’ ability to define backward classes. Because it is a constitutional amendment, it must be approved by both Houses.
The opposition said on Monday that it will work with the administration to pass the constitutional change. While two parties supported demonstrations at a conference convened at Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge’s office, others said the constitutional change should be approved because it empowers states on a delicate topic.
The 127th Constitution Amendment Bill 2021 attempts to get around a Supreme Court judgement from May 2021 that declared only the Centre, not the states, may notify the socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs).
Aside from that, the Union Minister for AYUSH would seek approval of the National Commission for Homoeopathy (Amendment) Bill, 2021, as well as the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Amendment) Bill, 2021. Both bills were introduced on Monday, but they were unable to be debated owing to the House’s numerous adjournments — the Lower House was postponed five times.
Meanwhile, no new Bill would be introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill, 2021, the Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2021, and the Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2021, are all on the Rajya Sabha’s agenda for Tuesday, with the exception of one.
On Monday, the Rajya Sabha was meant to examine these, but instead debated the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, and the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which were added to the supplemental list of items. In the Lok Sabha, both bills were passed.
The opposition raised concerns about additional legislation being added to the supplemental list, claiming a lack of time to prepare for a debate.
