On continuation of Bills:
- Vice President of India called for a debate on a Constitutional provision that provides for automatic lapsing of any Bill passed by Lok Sabha but remains pending in Rajya Sabha on the dissolution of the Lok Sabha as this will save Lok Sabha’s time.
- Under Article 107 of the Constitution “a Bill which is pending in the House of the People, or which having been passed by the House of the People is pending in the Council of States, shall subject to the provisions of Article 108, lapse on a dissolution of the House of the People”.
- He pointed out that 22 Bills lapsed after the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha since these had been introduced in the Lower House first.
On automatic lapse of Bills:
- He also suggested that a Bill which is not taken up for consideration and passage within five years of introduction should automatically be treated as lapsed.
- Since Rajya Sabha is a permanent House, Bills introduced there do not lapse, and remain pending, sometimes for decades.
