- Parliament passes Finance Bill 2017
- All amendements recommended by the Rajya Sabha were rejected by the Lower House
- Finance Bill 2017 was returned by the Rajya Sabha with 5 amendments on Wednesday
- Congress’ Digvijay Singh and CPI-M’s Sitaram Yechury had moved the amendments
Parliament Passes Finance Bill after Arun Jaitley Moves to Reject Amendments
Parliament on Thursday passed the Finance Bill 2017 after the Lok Sabha rejected all five amendments recommended by the Rajya Sabha.
Earlier, defending the draft of the Finance Bill he had introduced on Monday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, “I am against the amendments of Rajya Sabha."
As per the provisions of Article 109 of the Constitution, the Rajya Sabha has limited powers with respect to draft legislations that are tagged by the government as Money Bills. The Lok Sabha is free to either accept or reject all or any of its recommendations.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government does not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha.
The upper house discussed the bill for over five hours spread across two days with the Congress and other opposition parties taking exception to several provisions of the Finance Bill, stating that the government had sought to amend 40 laws in one go.
During discussion on the Bill, the opposition accused the government of "smuggling in" provisions to bypass the Rajya Sabha as the upper house has limited powers on Money Bills.
Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda raised the issue of the amendment that gives Income Tax officers right to search a premise without citing a reason.
On the electoral funding reforms brought by the government, Hooda said electoral bonds will only increase opacity in funding.
He also said reducing limit for anonymous donation to Rs 2,000 will not make much difference, and only increase the work for chartered accountants.
Amended Finance Bill Moved in Lok Sabha
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday brought the Finance Bill 2017 with the new amendments back to the Lok Sabha. Upon reintroduction of the bill in the lower house, Congress MP Deepender Hooda questioned the NDA government over the nature of the bill and the controversial amendments brought in by the Finance Minister on Monday.
The government tried to bring 40 amendments through the Finance Bill. We want separate legislations.
Raising objections over the non transparent nature of the amendment brought in for donations to political parties, he said:
We demand the introduction of a new “Transparency in Political Funding Bill”. We’re not doubting the intention but questioning the manner.Deepender Hooda, MP, Congress
Lok Sabha To Debate Finance Bill 2017
Lok Sabha on Thursday will debate the Finance Bill 2017 after it was returned with five amendments by the Upper House which has discussed the Bill for over five hours spread across two days.
In an attempt to check the progress of the Finance Bill 2017, the opposition on Wednesday had brought its own amendments to the much-debated bill.
The Bill, already passed by the Lok Sabha, was moved in the Rajya Sabha on 27 March after the government moved more than 40 amendments to the original Bill, some of which amend a number of corresponding legislations, with opposition accusing the government of sneaking in non-finance matters through the Finance Bill, over which the Upper House has no powers.
Congress' Digvijay Singh had moved amendments to three clauses of the Bill, which seek to amend Sections 132, 132(A) and 133 of the Income Tax Act. The amendments by Digvijay Singh were adopted after division of votes gave a clear 'ayes' to the opposition.
CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury also moved two amendments to the government Bill which were also adopted after division of votes.