Parliament Passes Essential Defence Services Bill, Centre Gets More Power

Parliament Monsoon Session 2021: The Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021 was passed by Rajya Sabha on Thursday amid the opposition protest and sloganeering over the Pegasus snooping controversy and the issues of farm laws and price rise.

Parliament on Thursday passed a bill which allows the central government to prohibit strikes, lockouts, and layoffs in units engaged in essential defence services. The Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021 was passed by Rajya Sabha on Thursday amid the opposition protest and sloganeering over the Pegasus snooping controversy and the issues of farm laws and price rise. Lok Sabha passed the bill on August 3. The bill which seeks to replace the related Ordinance brought into effect in June 2021 was tabled in the House for passage and consideration by Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt.