Lok Sabha to Take Up Banking Evidence and Taxation Bills on Day 13 of Monsoon Session

The Lok Sabha is scheduled to take up two significant legislative proposals on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, during the ongoing Monsoon Session. According to the Revised List of Business, the House will consider The Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026 and The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 for consideration and passing.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to move The Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026. The Bill aims to provide a modern legal framework for evidence relating to bankers’ books, aligning it with contemporary digital banking practices. It also covers matters connected with or incidental to such evidence. The existing Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1891, is considered outdated in the era of electronic banking records.

The new Bill, if passed, is expected to replace the 1891 Act, which was designed for physical ledger books. It does not adequately cover electronic records, digital signatures, and online transactions. The proposed legislation is likely to give legal recognition to digital banking records, facilitating their use as evidence in courts and tribunals.

The House will also take up a statutory resolution moved by Members of Parliament N.K. Premachandran and Sougata Ray, seeking disapproval of the Income-tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 (No. 2 of 2026), promulgated by the President on June 5. A statutory resolution disapproving an ordinance is a parliamentary mechanism to review executive orders issued when Parliament is not in session. If such a resolution is passed, the ordinance lapses.

The proceedings come amid repeated disruptions in Parliament. On Tuesday, August 4, Parliament passed a Bill to tighten regulations for delayed registration of births and deaths, making it mandatory to obtain a judicial magistrate’s approval for cases reported more than two years after the event. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill on Friday, July 31, amid protests.

Earlier, the Lok Sabha passed the Supreme Court Judges Bill without debate as Opposition protests continued. Such instances highlight the ongoing friction between the government and Opposition, with several Bills being passed without prolonged debate.

The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, also listed for consideration, is expected to propose changes to tax administration. Specific provisions of the Bill will be examined as it comes up for debate in the House.

The outcome of Wednesday’s business will depend on the willingness of members to allow proceedings to function smoothly. The Monsoon Session has seen frequent adjournments over various issues raised by opposition parties.