NEW DELHI: Despite frequent disruptions leading to adjournments, walkouts and even a boycott, Parliament transacted satisfactory business this monsoon session that ended on Friday.

At separate press conferences here, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi pointed out that the Lok Sabha passed 17 Bills and the Rajya Sabha 16.

Mr. Dasmunsi said the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, passed by the Upper House, could not be taken up in the Lower House, as Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar wanted to make some changes to strengthen the legislation against hoarding. The legislation process for the Factories Amendment Bill could not be completed as the Labour Minister, who has since resigned, noted on the file that he would prefer to bring it in the winter session.

"Collective wisdom"

Mr. Dasmunsi was grateful to "all party leaders" whose "collective wisdom" helped to bring about order in the Lok Sabha after Thursday's ugly incidents. "I do not take the credit for myself, I do not take credit for the United Progressive Alliance, I am grateful to all party leaders."

Mr. Chatterjee felt that the disposal of questions was not satisfactory; only 51 out of 400 could be taken up.

Mr. Dasmunsi said it would go down as "the Prime Minister's leadership session" as Manmohan Singh's response to the India-United States nuclear issue debate was appreciated by all, cutting across party lines.

Parliament also fulfilled its assurance, setting up a joint committee on the office-of-profit issue that would be notified soon. With the terms of reference already fixed, the committee would go into the larger issue of definition of an office of profit that would finally put the controversy at rest.

Bills passed by both Houses included the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill; the Food safety and Standards Bill, the Cantonments Bill; the Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill; the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) and Financial Institutions Laws (Amendment) Bill; the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill; the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Bill and the Salary and Allowances of MPs (Amendment) Bill.

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