The Lok Sabha today passed the Bills of Lading Bill, 2024. It will replace the Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856 which provides a legal framework for issuance of bills of lading. A bill of lading refers to a document issued by a freight carrier to a shipper. It contains details including the type, quantity, condition, and destination of goods being carried. The Act states that a bill of lading is conclusive evidence of goods on board. The legislation retains all provisions under the Act and adds that the central government may issue directions for carrying out the provisions of the Bill.
Replying to a debate on the Bill, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said, the bill is in line with the transformative vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said, several changes are being brought in the maritime and port sector in the country and the legislation is a part of it. Mr Sonowal said, it is an important legislation for the sector to enhance trading and commercial activities. The Minister said, the laws of the country must reflect the distinct identity of the nation and do away with colonial-era legislations. He said the legislation will serve the purpose of enabling ease of understanding and facilitating ease of doing business in the contemporary global maritime sector. Mr Sonowal expressed confidence that India will become self-reliant and one of the top developed nations in the world by 2047. Addressing queries of the Members pertaining to the legislation, he said, the Bill deals with the specific rights and liabilities emanating from a transfer of bill of lading to a consignee noting that it is not a contract but the evidence of a contract, thus it is a legal document.
Muhammed Hamdullaah Sayeed of Congress, Bibhu Prasad Tarai of BJP, Pratima Mondal of TMC, Kalanidhi Veeraswamy of DMK, Alok Kumar Suman of JD(U), Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT), Mathukumilli Sribharat of TDP, Virendra Singh of Samajwadi Party, Gurumoorthy Maddila of YSRCP, Chandrasekhar of ASP, Bhaskar Bhagare of NCP(SP), Sachithanantham R of CPI(M) participated in the debate.<>