Faux pas averted in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: A major faux pas was averted today with Speaker Sumitra Mahajan about to adjourn the Lok Sabha even before the passage of the Appropriation Bill which signalled the completion of the second phase of the Budgetary exercise.

"The House stands adjourned ....," she declared, but was quick to realise that something was amiss as her aide told her that some official business was yet to be over and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was getting ready to introduce the Bill.

Mahajan promptly said "Sorry" and added that sometimes such things do happen amid confusion.

Then in a matter of minutes, the House passed by a voice vote the Bill which would allow the Central government to withdraw Rs 62.03 lakh crore form the Consolidated Fund to meet its expenditure during 2015-16.

Jaitley is scheduled to move the Finance Bill 2015, which contains tax proposals of the government for the fiscal, for passage tomorrow in the Lower House.

The budgetary exercise for 2015-16 will be completed with the passage of the Finance Bill by Parliament. After Lok Sabha, it will go to Rajya Sabha.