Date:18/01/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/01/18/stories/2004011806560100.htm

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Parliament to meet on January 29

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN. 17. The decks have been cleared for early Lok Sabha elections with the Government today announcing the reconvening of Parliament on January 29. During the session, which is to end on February 5, the Government would seek a vote-on-account for its general expenditure in the new financial year and a separate sanction for the railways.

As per the schedule announced here tonight by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, the vote-on-account (interim budget) for the railways will be introduced in the Lok Sabha on January 30 and taken up for discussion and passage on February 3. The general vote-on-account will be presented in the House on February 3 and taken up for discussion and passage the next day. The interim budget papers will be tabled in the Rajya Sabha subsequently.

Once this process is completed, the Government can go in for early dissolution of the 13th Lok Sabha. The vote-on-account for both the railways and general expenditure will enable the Government carry on its routine expenditure beyond the current financial year till a full-fledged budget is approved by Parliament.

Ms. Swaraj said the coming session would be the second part of the Lok Sabha's 14th session, which began in December last year and the second part of the Rajya Sabha's 200th session. Therefore, there would be no Presidential address to the Joint Session of Parliament, conventionally delivered on its first sitting in a new year.

The Lok Sabha will meet on January 29 and adjourn as a mark of respect to its sitting Communist Party of India member from Bhatinda, Bhan Singh Bhaura, who passed away recently. The Rajya Sabha will resume on January 30. Ms. Swaraj said that since Parliament had been adjourned sine die and not prorogued, there was no need for the Cabinet to decide on fresh dates.

In all, the Rajya Sabha will have four sittings while the Lok Sabha five sittings. The House will not meet between January 31 and February 2 on account of holidays.

Ms. Swaraj said the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, today called on the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and informed him of the decision to reconvene Parliament.