Government prorogues winter session to facilitate key ordinances

New Delhi: The government has prorogued the winter session of Parliament to facilitate issuance of ordinances on key bills, including the one on triple talaq, which could not be passed in the just-concluded session. President Ram Nath Kovind prorogued both Houses on Thursday evening.

The government was earlier working on a plan to keep the winter session alive by keeping the two Houses sine die, and not proroguing the session. This would have helped the government save time as the process of the President of India convening the new session and the President’s address would not be required.

However, with the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018, still pending in the Rajya Sabha and the ordinance on it set to lapse on January 21, the government realised that a fresh ordinance can be issued on it only if the Parliament is not in session.


The bill has run into controversy with the government refusing to send it to a select committee of the Rajya Sabha on the grounds that such a legislative measure is an urgent necessity and should not be delayed. The opposition has alleged that the bill in its present form is only aimed at punishing Muslim men more than securing rights for Muslim women.

Ordinances on The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2018, and The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2018 will also be issued before the budget session begins.

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs met to discuss the dates for the budget session. Sources said it was decided that the session would be held anywhere between January 28 and February 11.