'No work calls after office hours': Private member's bill introduced
What's the story
A private member's bill, the "Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025," was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday. The bill seeks to give employees a legal right to ignore work-related calls and emails outside of office hours. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule proposed the legislation, which also recommends setting up an employees' welfare authority for its implementation, according to Hindustan Times.
Work-life balance
Bill aims to protect employees' personal time
The proposed bill aims to give every employee the right to refuse work-related communication outside of their designated working hours. It also seeks to ensure that workers aren't forced to engage in official matters during holidays. Private members' bills are usually introduced by MPs on issues they believe require legislative attention, although they often get withdrawn after government responses.
Legislative proposals
Other notable bills introduced in Lok Sabha
Apart from the Right to Disconnect Bill, several other significant bills were introduced during the ongoing winter session of Parliament. Congress MP Kadiyam Kavya moved the Menstrual Benefits Bill, 2024, which seeks to provide certain facilities at workplaces for women employees during menstruation. Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) MP Shambhavi Choudhary also proposed a bill for paid menstrual leave and access to hygiene facilities for working women and female students.
Legislative proposals
Tamil Nadu NEET exemption and death penalty abolition proposed
Congress MP Manickam Tagore introduced a bill to exempt Tamil Nadu from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate medical admissions. This comes after the state government challenged the President's rejection of its anti-NEET law in the Supreme Court. DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi also introduced a bill to abolish the death penalty in India, despite previous government rejections citing deterrent necessity.
Legislative proposals
Journalist protection and Hindi use in Supreme Court proposed
Independent MP Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil introduced the Journalist (Prevention of Violence and Protection) Bill, 2024. The bill aims to prevent violence against journalists and protect their properties. BJP MP Ganesh Singh moved the Supreme Court - Use of Hindi in Proceedings and Other Provisions Bill, 2024, which seeks to promote the use of Hindi in Supreme Court proceedings.