Procedure for enacting laws in India

          The basic function of Parliament is to make laws. All legislative proposals  have to be brought  in the form of  Bills  before Parliament.  A Bill  is a  statute  in draft and  cannot become law unless  it has  received the approval of  both the Houses of  Parliament and  the assent of the President of India.

       The process of law making begins with the introduction of a Bill in either House of Parliament.  A Bill can be introduced either by a Minister or a member other than a Minister. In the former case, it is called a Government Bill and in the latter case, it is known as a Private Member's Bill.

        A  Bill undergoes three readings in each House, i.e.,  the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha,  before  it is submitted to the President for assent.

          The First Reading refers to (i) motion for  leave to introduce a  Bill  in the House on the adoption of  which  the Bill is  introduced; or(ii) in the case of a  Bill  originated in  and passed by the other House,  the laying on the  Table of the House of  the   Bill,  as passed by the other House.

       The Second Reading  consists of   two stages.The "First Stage" constitutes discussion on the principles of the  Bill and its provisions generally on  any of the  following motions -  that  the Bill be  taken into consideration; or   that  the Bill be referred to  a Select Committee of the House; or  that the Bill be referred  to a  Joint Committee of the Houses with the concurrence of  the other House; or  that the Bill be circulated for the purpose of  eliciting opinion thereon.   The "Second Stage" constitutes   the clause by clause consideration of the Bill, as introduced in the House or   as reported by a Select or  Joint Committee, as the case may be.

In the case of a  Bill  passed by Rajya Sabha and transmitted to Lok Sabha,  it is  first laid on the Table of Lok Sabha by the Secretary-General, Lok Sabha.   In this case the Second Reading refers to the motion (i) that the Bill, as passed by Rajya Sabha, be taken into consideration; or (ii) that the Bill be referred to a  Select Committee (if the Bill  has not already been referred to a Joint Committee of the Houses).  

The Third Reading refers to  the discussion on the  motion  that the Bill or   the Bill, as amended,  be passed.

 Almost  similar procedure is  followed in Rajya Sabha in respect of   Bills introduced in that House. 

          After  a  Bill  has been finally passed  by   the Houses of Parliament,  it is  submitted to the President for his assent.  After a  Bill has received the assent of the President,  it becomes the law of the land.

Reference of Bills to Departmentally Related Standing Committees

       The year 1993 ushered in a new era in the history of Indian Parliament when 17 Departmentally Related Standing Committees were constituted. The number of Standing Committees has now been increased from 17 to 24. While 8 Committees work under the direction of the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, 16 Committees work under the direction of the Speaker, Lok Sabha.

One of the important functions of these Committees is to examine such Bills introduced in either House as are referred to them by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha, as the case may be, and make report thereon.

          The reports of the Standing Committees have persuasive value. In case the  Government accepts any of the  recommendations  of  the

Committee, it may bring forward official amendments at the consideration stage of the Bill or may withdraw the Bill reported by the Standing Committee and bring forward a new Bill after incorporating the recommendations of the Standing Committee.

BILLS BEFORE A SELECT OR JOINT COMMITTEE

          If a Bill is referred to a Select or a Joint Committee, it considers the Bill clause-by-clause just as the House does.  Amendments can be moved to the various clauses by the members of the Committee.  After the report of the Select or Joint Committee has been presented to the House, the member-in-charge of the Bill usually moves the motion for consideration of the Bill, as reported by the Select or Joint Committee, as the case may be. 

          A Money Bill or a Financial Bill containing any of the provisions calculated to make a Bill a Money Bill, however, cannot be referred to a Joint Committee of the Houses.

 RESTRICTION ON INTRODUCTION OF CERTAIN  CATEGORIES OF BILLS IN RAJYA SABHA

      A Bill may be introduced in either House of Parliament. However,a Money Bill can not be introduced in Rajya Sabha.It can only be introduced in Lok Sabha with prior recommendation of

the President for  introduction  in Lok Sabha.  If any  question arises  whether a  Bill is a Money Bill or not,   the decision of the Speaker  thereon is final.

 Rajya Sabha is required  to return  a  Money Bill  passed and transmitted by Lok Sabha  within a  period  of  14 days  from the date of   its receipt.    Rajya Sabha may  return a  Money Bill  transmitted to it  with or without recommendations.   It is open to Lok Sabha to accept or reject all or any of the recommendations of Rajya Sabha.

However,  if   Rajya Sabha   does not  return a  Money Bill within the prescribed period of  14 days,   the Bill is deemed  to havebeen passed by both Houses of   Parliament at the expiry of   the said period of 14 days in the form in which  it was passed by Lok Sabha.