New Delhi: The Union government has listed four Bills for consideration and passage in the upcoming special session of parliament which is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 18.On August 31, Union minister for parliamentary affairs, Pralhad Joshi, had announced that a special session of parliament would be held from September 18 to 22. Joshi did not, however, reveal the agenda of the session.Amid mounting criticism from the opposition around the “secrecy” surrounding the agenda of the special session, the Modi government on Wednesday, September 13, published the tentative agenda of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.In a late-night bulletin, the government listed four Bills for consideration and passage. This includes The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023; The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023; The Post Office Bill, 2023; and The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, Term of Office) Bill, 2023.The Rajya Sabha’s parliamentary bulletin, however, stated that the list is “not to be taken as exhaustive.”Here’s a look at the four Bills that have been listed for the special session:The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, Term of Office) Bill, 2023 The contentious Bill which has raised questions about the independence of the election commission ahead of the general elections in 2024, was introduced on August 10 by the Union ministry for law and justice in the Rajya Sabha, just a day before the parliament’s monsoon session was to draw to a close.The Bill repeals the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991.According to Article 324 of the constitution, the election commission will consist of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and such number of other election commissioners (ECs) as the president may decide.The CEC and other ECs are appointed by the president.The new Bill, while keeping the same composition of the election commission, adds that the CEC and other ECs will be appointed by the president on the recommendation of a selection committee.The Bill states the selection committee will consist of the prime minister as the chairperson; the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, as member; and a Union cabinet minister to be nominated by the prime minister, also as a member.While the 1991 Act stated that the salary of the ECs will be equal to that of a Supreme Court judge, the new Bill states that the salary, allowance, and service conditions of the CEC and other ECs will be the same as that of the cabinet secretary.While the opposition has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of using the Bill to control the election commission, former chief election commissioners have raised concerns about the downgrading of the status of election commissioners as well as the CEC from being at par with Supreme Court judges to that of cabinet secretary.The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha, just months after a constitution bench of the Supreme Court ruled in March that election commissioners should be appointed by the president based on advice from a committee comprising the prime minister, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and the chief justice of India (CJI).The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 The Bill is meant to replace the existing Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 (PRB), and was passed in the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote on August 3 in the Opposition’s absence.The legislation provides for the registration of newspapers, periodicals, and books along with cataloguing of books.It defines a “periodical” as any publication, including a newspaper, which is published and printed at regular intervals containing public news or comments on public news, but does not include a book, or a journal including a book or journal of scientific, technical and academic nature.It states that every printer of a periodical will have to inform the Press Registrar General ( through an online portal) and the local District Magistrate.Under Section 4(1) the Bill states that those persons who have been convicted for an offence “involving terrorist act or unlawful activity; or for having done anything against the security of the State” will not be allowed to bring out a periodical.The Bill also provides for the central government to appoint a Press Registrar General who will maintain a register of newspapers, issue registrations to periodicals and will also have the power to revise, cancel or suspend such registrations, among others.The Press Registrar General can suspend a periodical’s registration for a minimum period of 30 days which can extend to 180 days.Such registrations can be suspended due to false information provided to register the periodical, failure to publish the periodical continuously, giving false annual statements.In addition, registration may also be cancelled if a periodical has the same or similar title as any other periodical, or if the owner/ publisher has been convicted of a terrorist act or unlawful activity, or for acting against the security of the state.The Editors Guild of India has raised concerns over the bill and said that the new legislation “widens the powers of the state to have more intrusive and arbitrary checks” in how a publication functions, adding that some of the provisions were “vague” and the ambiguity could have “adverse implications on press freedom”. The Post Office Bill, 2023 The Bill repeals the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 and provides for matters related to the functioning of the Post Office, an undertaking of the central government (also known as India Post).The Bill allows employees to open postal parcels in the interest of national security or public security.According to an analysis by PRS Legislative Research, while the earlier Act provided for the interception of a shipment due to any public emergency, or in the interest of public safety or tranquillity by the central government, state governments, or any officer specially authorised by them; the new bill states that the interception of a shipment can be done due to concerns relating to security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, emergency, or public safety, and contravention of the provisions of the Bill or any other law.It also states that an officer empowered by the central government through a notification may carry out an interception.While the Act provided for an officer in charge of the Post Office who may examine a shipment in case of any suspicion relating to goods which are prohibited, or those that may be liable to be paid duty upon Bill does away with this process of examination.Instead, the Bill provides that in such cases, the central government may empower an officer of the Post Office to send the shipment to the customs authority or any other specified authority which will then deal with the item in question.The Bill also allows post offices to have the exclusive privilege to issue postage stamps.The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023 The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023 amends the Advocates Act, 1961 and was passed by the Rajya Sabha on August 3.The Bill provides that every High Court, District Judge, Sessions Judge, District Magistrate, and every Revenue-officer, not being below the rank of a Collector of a district may frame and publish lists of persons who act as touts, and may, from time to time, alter and amend such lists.Touts refers to a person who in return for a payment procures or proposes to procure the employment of any legal practitioner in a legal business or who for the purposes of such procurement frequents the precincts of Civil or Criminal Courts or of revenue-offices, or railway stations, landing stages, lodging places or other places of public resort.The Bill states that anyone who acts as a tout while his name is included in the list of touts framed by authorities will be punished with imprisonment up to three months, a fine up to Rs 500, or both.Discussion on 75 years of parliamentary journeyApart from these four Bills, the centre has stated in its parliamentary bulletin announcing the agenda of the session, that there will be a discussion on “Parliamentary Journey of 75 Years starting from Samvidhan Sabha – Achievements, Experiences, Memories and Learning”.Both the notices for the tentative list of house business for the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha state that the special session on Monday will include this discussion, apart from the normal business of the house.Earlier while announcing the special session, Joshi in his tweet on X (formerly Twitter) had also mentioned the government’s focus on Amrit Kaal.Special Session of Parliament (13th Session of 17th Lok Sabha and 261st Session of Rajya Sabha) is being called from 18th to 22nd September having 5 sittings. Amid Amrit Kaal looking forward to have fruitful discussions and debate in Parliament. pic.twitter.com/b3PIRngpOs— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) August 31, 2023 “Amid Amrit Kaal looking forward to have fruitful discussions and debate in Parliament,” he had said.