Centre lines up six new bills for last four days of Winter session

The Centre has lined up six new bills - including one to increase the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 - for the last four days of Parliament's winter session, which wraps up on Thursday.

The government is determined to push through the bills although opposition protests have forced adjournments in both the Houses on several days. "We hope to get the six bills passed over the next four sittings," a government insider told ET.

On top of the agenda is introduction and passing of Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill to raise the minimum age of marriage for women to 21. The amendment bill was cleared by the Cabinet last Wednesday. People aware of the development said the government will introduce the bill in the Lok Sabha first and then take it to the Upper House.

The government is also planning to push through the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, National Anti-Doping Bill, Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill, Chartered Accountants, the Cost and Works Accountants and the Company Secretaries (Amendment) Bill and the Mediation Bill, sources said. Barring Election Laws (Amendment) Bill and Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, the other bills have been introduced in the Lok Sabha.

The government has only three clear days for consideration and passing these bills as following the set norm, Parliament adjourns sine die on the last working day after question hour and zero hour. Also, there are crucial discussions listed in both Houses on price rise and the spread of new coronavirus variant of concern Omicron.

The government is likely to introduce the Mediation Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The bill aims to promote and facilitate mediation, especially institutional mediation, for resolution of disputes, enforce mediated settlement agreements, and provides for a body for registration of mediators.

The Elections Laws (Amendment) Bill is expected to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

Last week, opposition parties took up the SIT report on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in both the Houses and demanded the resignation of Union minister Ajay Mishra whose son Ashish is the main accused in the case. The Rajya Sabha has been facing disruptions over suspension of 12 opposition MPs.