Cabinet Secretariat to scrutinise bills before introduction in Parliament

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Secretariat will properly scrutinise all bills before these are introduced in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

In a communication to secretaries of all central government departments, the Cabinet Secretariat has said all ministries were earlier requested to send to it proposals seeking approval of the Cabinet for proposed legislation to be introduced in Parliament, well before commencement of session to enable proper scrutiny.

The ministries have been asked to ensure that any such proposal is sent to the Cabinet Secretariat well in time, after completing all procedural requirements including requisite inter-ministerial consultations, it said in the order issued on Friday.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has said that at least 25 new bills are likely to come up before Parliament.

The Monsoon Session is scheduled to commence on July 18 and go on till August 12.

In another directive, the Cabinet Secretariat has asked all ministries to complete inter-ministerial consultations in a time-bound manner.

Each ministry has been advised to circulate the proposal for consideration of the Cabinet or Cabinet committees to all the departments concerned business of which is likely to be impacted by the proposal and that the entire process of consultations be completed in two weeks' time.

It is accordingly reiterated that the requirement of completing inter-ministerial consultations in a time-bound manner be ensured in all cases including while formulating or amending policies, guidelines and decisions by ministries or departments where such action may impact the transaction of business allotted to other ministries or departments, it said.