Budget session's first phase likely to be extended

New Delhi: The first phase of the ongoing budget session is likely to be extended by two days to pass pending bills on coal, mines and minerals, and land on which the government has already issued ordinances, sources said on Wednesday.

The coal bill, the mines and minerals bill, and the land bill are required to be passed to replace the ordinances promulgated by the government. The ordinances lapse on April 5. 

Under the parliamentary practices and norms, the government cannot reissue the ordinances while the session is going on.

Parliament was scheduled to take a break from its on-going budget session on March 20 and reconvene on April 20.

According to official sources, the issue of extending the first phase of the budget session was discussed in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs on Wednesday morning.