Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Assembly Speaker Pradeep Amat and leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh on the House premises. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 14: Even as the final session of the Odisha Assembly before the general elections was today adjourned sine die, the last day saw passage of two important bills — the Lokayukta bill and the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research bill.

In the past five years, the BJD government has passed 81 bills, but failed to ensure passage of some important bills.

While five bills will be lapsed during this period, another five bills, which had been sent to the select committee of the House, will meet the same fate. An Assembly official said that if the next government wanted, it could redraft the bills and introduce them in the House again for approval.

Here is a run-down on the five bills, which will lapse because of sine die adjournment.

• Odisha Conduct of Examination Act Amendment Bill: It aims to check malpractice and unfair means by students as well teachers during examinations. It provides punishment to officials with imprisonment from three to seven years and fine on those encouraging malpractice.

• Odisha Special Survey and Settlement Bill: It envisages conferring land ownership rights on long-standing tenants during the settlement process. It had faced opposition from members cutting across party lines, who objected to it stating that it would create a law and order problem.

• Odisha Pani Panchayat (Amendment) Bill: It aims to strengthen participation of water users in the pani panchayat. The original Pani Panchayat Act had come into existence in 2002. However, in the past 11 years, there have been several amendments to it.

• Biju Patnaik University of Technology (Amendment) Bill: It aims to provide an office of pro-chancellor to facilitate better functioning of the university, reduce tenure of the BPUT vice-chancellor from five years to three years and bring BPUT at par with other state universities. It also speaks of granting autonomy to the constituent colleges under BPUT.

• Indian Stamp Odisha Amendment Bill: It speaks of renewal of mining leases and collection of more taxes. It says that stamp duty be chargeable at 15 per cent of the amount of average royalty.

Bills sent to select committee

• Odisha Municipal Laws Amendment Bill: It seeks mandatory reforms in the municipal tax structure. It also speaks of implementing the property tax. Due to stiff opposition, the bill was sent to the select committee.

• Gram Panchayat Law Amendment Bill: It wants mandatory reforms in tax structure and aims to implement the property tax. But, it did not take off because of opposition from members cutting across party lines.

• Odisha Property Rights to Slum Dwellers and Prevention of New Slums Bill: It envisages providing property rights to identified slum dwellers, provide residential houses with infrastructural facilities, identification, redevelopment, rehabilitation and prevention of new slums.

• Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) Amendment Bill: It proposes more powers to the vice-chancellor and argues for a five-year term for the vice-chancellor, proposes to abolish the post of pro-chancellor, ex-officio, occupied by the state agriculture minister.

• Odisha Reservation of Vacancies in Post and Services for SC and STs Bill: It aims to ensure promotional avenues in government services, provide reservation to SC/ST candidates in the contract and ad hoc appointments in government offices and other institutions.