Lok Sabha adjourned sine die, Speaker hails session

New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Wednesday by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan after working for around 176 hours during the budget session.

Mahajan told the house that 8.12 hours were wasted due to disruptions. The Lok Sabha held 28 sittings during the session.

Hailing the session as "very fruitful and productive", she said the house introduced 24 bills and passed 23 including on Goods and Services Tax.

Besides four bills related to GST, the Payment of Wages Amendment Bill, Specified Bank Notes Bill, The Maternity Benefits Amendment Bill, Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, The Mental Health Care Bill and Taxation Laws Amendment Bill were also passed.

Describing the session as historic, the Speaker hoped that members would continue to work like this to serve the nation.

The budget session began on January 31 with President Pranab Mukherjee addressing Parliament.

The house discussed for over 10 hours before passing the Motion of Thanks on Presidential address on March 7.

The General Budget, merged with Railway Budget for the first time, was presented on February 1.

The house discussed the budget for more than 26 hours, Mahajan said.

Mahajan also congratulated the members for completing the process of passing the Union Budget before April 1.

"All processes related to the Budget, related to tax or expenditure, have been completed before the end of this financial year. This gave government departments an opportunity to spend on public welfare related works," she added.

The first half of the session was held from January 31 to February 9 and the second half began on February 9.