SESSION REVIEW

FIRST SESSION (SECOND PART)

 24th & 25th March 2004

 

The First Session had commenced on the 18th of December 2003 and was adjourned sine-die on the 23rd December 2003. The Government informed the Hon'ble Speaker that it wished to pass a vote on account for four months instead of a regular Budget, in view of the General Election. The Hon’ble Speaker reconvened the Session and the sittings were held on the 24th and 25th March 2004. The sitting commenced at 10.00 A.M. with the National Song (Vande Mataram).

 

I           Obituary References: The House made obituary references on 24th March 2004 on the passing away of the following:

1.          Shri KR Malkani, Former Lt.Governor of Pondicherry and Member of the Rajya Sabha.

2.          Shri Sikandar Bakht, Former Governor of Kerala and Member of the Delhi Metropolitan Council.

The House paid tributes to the freedom fighters on the occasion of the “Shahidi Diwas” and observed two minutes silence as a mark of respect towards the departed souls.

 

II         Committee Reports:  Reports of the following House Committees were presented to the House and adopted:

  1. First Report of the Business Advisory Committee.
  2. First Report of the General Purposes Committee.

 

III        Papers Laid: The Chief Minister and other Ministers laid copies of twenty-four Notifications issued by their respective departments on the Table of the House.

 

IV        Legislative Business: Besides the Appropriation Bills the ‘Code of Criminal Procedure (Delhi Amendment) Bill 2004, (Bill No. 1 of 2004)’ was introduced on the 24th March and considered and passed by the House on the 25th March 2004

 

V         Special Mentions:  Twenty Members raised   Special Mentions on various matters of public importance. In seven cases Chief Minister or Ministers replied on the floor of the House.

 

VI        Short Duration Discussion: Short Duration Discussion on following matters of public importance were taken up by the House:

1.      ‘Problems faced by the people living in unauthorized colonies and providing basic civic amenities to them’: The discussion was taken up on the 24th March 2004. Seven Members participated in the discussion, which was replied to by the Minister of Urban Development.

  1. “Need to improve the school education system in Delhi”: The discussion was taken up on the 25th March 2004 and three Members participated in the Debate. The Minister of education replied to the discussion, which utilized thirty minutes.

 

 

VII      Adjournment Motion: On 24th March 2004 Dr. Jagdish Mukhi, Leader of Opposition moved an adjournment motion on the implementation of Unit Area Method of Property Taxes and initiated debate on it. The debate continued for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Six other Members participated in the debate. The Hon’ble Chief Minister made certain clarifications and the Hon’ble Minister of Urban Development replied to the debate. The Adjournment Motion was put to vote and negated by voice-vote.

 

VIII     Calling Attention Motion: On 25th March 2004, Prof. Kiran Walia called the attention of the Chief Minister towards recent incidences of rape and murder of women including foreigners in Delhi. The Chief Minister replied.  Seven Members sought clarifications from the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister replied to the clarifications. The debate on the Calling Attention Motion utilized 58 minutes of the floor time.

 

IX        Congratulatory Motions: The following Motions were adopted unanimously:

1. “that this House congratulates the Indian Cricket Team for their outstanding performance in the one-day cricket series against Pakistan and for winning the hearts of the people throughout the world for super display of game and sportsmanship.

The House also congratulates the Hon'ble Speaker to participate in this endeavor to support Indian team and preponing the time of the House today to witness the final match and also encourage the Indian Cricket team with our sentiment and best wishes.” (On the 24th March 2004)

 

2. “that this House congratulates the Hon'ble Speaker for efforts for the beautification of the Assembly building and efforts made for the restoration of the originality of the Old Secretariat Complex. Vision Document prepared to modernize the Assembly in order to make it a world-class model representative institution is commendable. The House also compliments and wishes the best for the early completion of these projects.” (On the 24th March 2004)

3. “that this House congratulates the Indian Cricket team for its great victory in Pakistan and also wishes it to emerge victorious in the test series. The House also expresses its thanks  to the Hon'ble Speaker for enabling the Members to watch the historic match by preponing the time of the sitting of the House.” (On the 25th March 2004)

 

X         Financial Business (25th March 2004):

  1. Annual Budget (2004-2005): Dr. AK Walia, Minister of Finance presented the Annual Budget for the financial year 2004-2005.

 

  1. Demands for Grants: The Minister of Finance presented the Demands for Grants for the financial year 2004-2005.

 

  1. Presentation and Voting on the Supplementary Demands (2003-2004): The Minister of Finance presented the first and final batch of Supplementary Demands   for the financial year 2003-2004. The Supplementary Demands were considered Demand-wise and passed unanimously.

 

  1. Appropriation (No.1) Bill, 2004: The Minister of Finance   introduced the ‘Appropriation (No.1) Bill, 2004 (Bill No.2 of 2004) (for the first and final batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2003-2004) with the leave of the House which was considered and passed unanimously.

 

  1. Presentation and Voting on the Demands for Grants (Vote on Account) for the period April to July 2004: The Minister of Finance presented the Demands for Grants (Vote on Account) for the period April to July 2004 which were considered Demand-wise and passed unanimously.

 

6. Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2004: The Minister of Finance   introduced the ‘Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2004 (Bill No.3 of 2004) with the leave of the House which was considered and passed unanimously.

 

 

XI        Election to Financial Committees: As per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business nine Members were to be elected to the Financial Committees. However, as only nine nominations each for the Financial Committees were received, all the nominees were declared elected unopposed.

 

            The House was adjourned sine-die on the 25th March 2004 with the rendering of the National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana)