These were the same bills among five that the government rushed through the Lok Sabha on Friday without debate amid the Telangana pandemonium, before it was adjourned sine die.
The business advisory committee of the house refused to let the two bills listed on agenda for discussion and passage. One bill that seeks to create a separate commercial division in the high courts was referred to the select committee of the house, while the second bill to amend the Trade Marks Act was deferred for the next session for thorough discussion.
A resolution that Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily brought to refer the first bill to the select committee sought its report within six weeks. The government will thus be able to bring it in the budget session in February.
The bill provides for separate commercial division of high courts with judges expert in accountancy and commercial matters to fast-track financial disputes of Rs 5 crores and above.
The Trade Marks (Amendment Bill) that will now come up before the Rajya Sabha in the next session to enable a person seek global trade marks through a single application by depositing a single fee in India.
In an end-of-session press conference, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal announced that the Constitution amendment bill for 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies will also be brought before the Parliament in the next session in February. A parliamentary standing committee submitted its report to both the houses last Thursday, giving its nod to get the bll enacted in its present form.
In reply to a question, Bansal also clarified that a bll passed by the Lok Sabha on December 18 and by the Rajya Sabha on December 22 to provide travel facilities to the kins of the ministers is only to remove the anomaly in the benefit already availed by the members of parliament.
There is, however, no increase in the number of tickets available to ministers for free air travel, he said, adding that companions and relatives will be able to travel free only while accompanying ministers and not alone.
