Monsoon Session Day 13: RS clears SC judges expansion bill, LS passes Bankers' Books Evidence Bill

Parliament's Day 13: Key legislation cleared

The Monsoon Session's thirteenth day saw significant legislative action despite persistent Opposition protests. The Rajya Sabha cleared the Supreme Court Judges' Bill, which increases the number of Apex Court judges from 33 to 37. The Lok Sabha, meanwhile, passed the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill before adjourning for the day.

The bills were pushed through amid noisy demonstrations by Opposition members over the NEET examination controversy and the Ram temple donation row. The protests, however, did not derail the government's legislative agenda.

Supreme Court expansion: What the bill does

The bill amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, raising the sanctioned strength of judges in the top court. Once enacted, the Supreme Court will have a total of 37 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. The increase is intended to address the mounting pendency of cases, a concern repeatedly raised by the judiciary itself.

Officials have not yet confirmed a timeline for the appointments that will follow the bill's passage. The government is expected to initiate the process once the bill receives presidential assent.

Lok Sabha passes Bankers' Books Evidence Bill

The Lok Sabha passed the Bankers' Books Evidence (Amendment) Bill, which modernises provisions related to the admissibility of electronic records as evidence in banking transactions. The bill allows printouts of electronic records to be treated as primary evidence, a move aimed at easing litigation in banking disputes.

The passage came after a brief debate, with members from both sides supporting the amendment. The bill now moves to the Rajya Sabha for consideration.

Opposition protests continue

Throughout the day, Opposition MPs raised slogans and demanded discussions on the NEET paper leak issue and the alleged acceptance of donations by a Ram temple trust. The protests led to repeated adjournments in both Houses, though business was eventually transacted.

The government has maintained that these issues have been addressed adequately. The Opposition, however, has vowed to keep pressing for a detailed debate.

As the session progresses, the focus will shift to pending bills and the possibility of a truce between the treasury and Opposition benches. The next few days will determine whether the government can sustain its legislative pace amid the ongoing standoff.