THURDSAY, THE 2ND APRIL, 1998 (The met in the Parliament House at 11.00 a.m.)

1.OBITUARY REFERENCE The Chairman made reference to the passing away of Shri M. S. Ramachandran (ex- Member). The House observed silence all Members standing as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed. 2. PAPERS LAID ON THE TABLE Shri R. K. Kumar (Minister of State in the Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs and Finance) laid on the Table- I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notification of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), under sub-section (2) of section 38 of the Central Excise and Salt Act, 1944, together with explanatory memoranda on the Notifications:- (1) G.S.R. No. 49(E), dated the 23rd January, 1998 publishing the Central Excise (First Amendment) Rules, 1998. (2) G.S.R. No. 668(E), dated the 26th November, 1997, publishing the Central Excise (Twelfth Amendment) Rules, 1997. (3) G.S.R. No. 694(E), dated the 11th December, 1997 publishing the Central Excise (Thirteenth Amendment) Rules, 1997. II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) [RAJYA SABHA]

Notification S.O. No. 714(E), dated the 7th October, 1997, regarding declaration of Industrially Backward Districts of the Country for availing the benefit of tax holiday u/s 80-IA of the Income Tax Act, 1961, under section 296 of the said Act. III. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notification of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue):- (1) G.S.R. No. 20(E), dated the 5th January, 1998, publishing the corrigendum to Notification No. 20/97-Central Excise (N.T.), dated the 9th July, 1997. (2) G.S.R. No. 22(E), dated the 7th January, 1998, publishing the corrigendum to Notification No. 49/97-Central Excise (N.T.), dated the 8th September, 1997. (3) G.S.R. No. 23(E), dated the 7th January, 1998, publishing the corrigendum to Notification No. 59/97-Central Excise (N.T.), dated the 26th November, 1997. 3. MOTION OF THANKS OF THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS Shri (Prime Minister) replied to the discussion on the following Motion by Shri Sunder Singh Bhandari on the 30th March, 1998, and the amendments moved thereto:- "That an Address be presented to the President in the following terms:- "That the Members of the Rajya Sabha assembled in this Session are deeply greatful to the President for the Address which he has been pleased to deliver to both Houses of Parliament assembled together on March 25, 1998." All the amendments moved were either withdrawn or negatived by the House. The Motion of Thanks was, thereafter, adopted. 4. GOOD WISHES TO THE RETIRING MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE The Chairman offered good wishes to the Members of the Rajya Sabha whose term of office would expire during 1998. Members spoke on the occasion. Shri (Minister of Industry) and Leader of the House also associated himself with the expression of good wishes made by the Chairman and other members. (The House adjourned for lunch at 2.53 p.m. and re-assembled at 3.29 p.m.) 5. GOVERNMENT BILL-RETURNED The Income-tax (Amendment) Bill, 1998 as passed by the . Shri R. K. Kumar (Minister of State in the Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs and Finance) moved: "That the Bill further to amend the Income Tax Act, 1961, as passed by the Lok Sabha be taken into consideration." Members took part in the discussion. Shri R. K. Kumar replied to the debate. The Motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. Clauses 2 to 4 were adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted. Shri R. K. Kumar moved: That the Bill be returned. The motion moved by Shri R. K. Kumar that the Bill be returned was adopted and the Bill was returned. 6. RESIGNATION BY MEMBER The Vie-Chairman informed the Members that the Chairman had received a letter from Shri Somappa R. Bommai, a Member representing the State of Orissa resigning his seat in the Rajya Sabha and that he has accepted his resignation with effect from the 2nd April, 1998. 7. VALIDICTORY REMARKS The Vice-Chairman made valedictory remarks on the conclusion of the Session. 8. THE NATIONAL SONG National Song (Vande Mataram) was played.

(The House adjourned sine-die at 5.08 p.m.)

P R O R O G A T I O N

"In exercise of the power conferred upon me by sub-clause (a) of clause (2) of article 85 of the Constitution, I hereby prorogue the Rajya Sabha.

NEW K. R. NARAYANAN, The 6th April, 1998. President.