Lok Sabha passes Indian Trusts (Amendment) Bill, 2015

The bill, which seeks to amend the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 (Principal Act), was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on August 13. The amendment would enable the Central Government to notify securities or class of securities for investment by trusts and to remove the outdated provisions occurring in section 20 of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882.

He appealed to the speaker not to allow any discussion on the bill as nothing could be heard. As the house met at 2.15 p.m. after lunch, leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said how bills could be discussed and passed "when the house was not in order".

As Kharge was making his point, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu got up and said the Congress and other opposition parties do not respect the rules.

"Since they do not respect the rules, let's take up business," Naidu said.

Kharge and Naidu were engaged in heated exchanges while putting forth their points of view.

"Today (Wednesday) we are protesting as the government is disregarding and disrespecting the opposition. The bills should not be passed (in a situation like this)," Kharge said, adding that if the government is so interested in normal business of the house "they must sack V K Singh".

The bill was passed by a voice vote amid sloganeering. (Business Standard)