Opposition uproar at Election Commission headquarters: Six bills passed without discussion

NEW DELHI: Six bills were passed in both houses of Parliament without discussion, taking advantage of the time when opposition MPs were arrested for protesting at the Election Commission headquarters. These include the Income Tax Amendment Bill, the Tax Bill, the National Sports Administration Bill, and the National Anti-Doping Bill.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm due to the opposition uproar. The arrested opposition leaders had not returned when the Lok Sabha reconvened at 2 pm. It was at this time that the bill with crucial provisions was considered. Although the opposition members rushed to the House after learning that the amendments to remove Amit Shah's son Jay Shah from government control were being voted on, the bill was passed by voice vote without discussion amid uproar.

The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Income-Tax (No.2) Bill, 2025 containing the Select Committee recommendations were introduced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman amidst uproar. The Income Tax Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha in February, was withdrawn the other day.

The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill seeks to provide tax relief to members of the Unified Pension Scheme. When the House, which was adjourned in the din, met at 4 pm, both bills were passed without discussion.

The Merchant Shipping Bill and the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill were passed in the Rajya Sabha on a similar pattern. The budget-related bills of Manipur, which is under President's Rule, were passed and sent back to the Lok Sabha.

Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of police stopping the march of MPs when the Rajya Sabha met at 2 pm. Leader of the House J.P. Nadda pointed out that the issue was irrelevant during the discussion on the bill. It was ruled that Kharge's words should not be included in the record.