Rajya Sabha to be prorogued for re-issue of land ordinance

Ending suspense, Government today decided to prorogue the current session of Rajya Sabha so that it can re-issue the controversial land ordinance even as the Opposition mounted a fresh attack on the measure.
The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh met here today and decided to recommend prorogation of the Upper House with immediate effect.
Under the Constitution at least one of the Houses has to be prorogued for Government to issue an ordinance. Parliament is currently on a month-long recess after the Budget session started on February 23.
The land acquisition ordinance, which was promulgated in December last, will lapse on April 5 because it could not be converted into a law by Parliament.

The Ordinance had cleared the Lok Sabha hurdled but faced stiff opposition in Rajya Sabha, where the government lacks numbers. The bill to replace the Ordinance was passed in Lok Sabha with nine amendments and the government indicated its willingness to further amend it but a united Opposition did not allow the government to take up the matter in Rajya Sabha.
"The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs today met and has decided to recommend prorogation of the Rajya Sabha with immediate effect," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after the CCPA meet.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi besides Naidu were there.

Asked when will the government bring the ordinance on land again as the existing ordinance will lapse on April 5, the minister said,"you will come to know when the decision is taken.