Parliament passed The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill 2025 on Wednesday, modernizing a century-old maritime law despite heated protests and sloganeering in the Rajya Sabha over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue. The bill, which replaces the colonial-era Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act of 1925, aims to streamline regulations for maritime trade and enhance ease of doing business.

The session was marked by intense disruptions as opposition MPs, including Neeraj Dangi (Congress), P Sandosh Kumar (CPI), Haris Beeran (IUML), and V Sivadasan (CPI(M)), demanded a discussion on SIR. Rajya Sabha Chair Bhubaneshwar Kalita, however, insisted that only matters related to the bill would be recorded, dismissing unrelated demands. This sparked accusations of bias from Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, who argued that rules should apply equally to both sides. “You allow treasury bench speeches but call points of order from our side disorderly. This is unfair,” Kharge said.

In response, Leader of the House J P Nadda accused the opposition of creating chaos, stating, “Those who disrupt the House have no right to raise points of order.” BJP MP Sanjay Seth further criticized the opposition, claiming they were uninterested in national development and infrastructure. Despite the din, MPs like Rajib Bhattacharjee (BJP) and G K Vasan (TMC(M)) participated in the brief debate on the bill.

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Minister of State for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Shantanu Thakur, who moved the bill, emphasized its significance in shedding colonial legacies. “This bill repeals a 100-year-old pre-independence law as part of the government’s effort to replace over 1,500 outdated laws under Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Thakur said. He highlighted that the new legislation aligns with modern drafting practices, simplifies language, and reduces ambiguities to minimize litigation risks for Indian exporters, importers, and shipping professionals.

The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill 2025 retains the core provisions of the 1925 Act, which governs responsibilities, liabilities, rights, and immunities for goods transported from Indian ports domestically or internationally. It aligns with the Hague Rules of 1924 and its subsequent amendments while empowering the government to adapt to evolving international maritime conventions. The bill also ensures transparency through parliamentary oversight of executive notifications.

Opposition MP John Brittas (CPI(M)) proposed an amendment and demanded a division of vote, supported by other opposition members. However, with several MPs absent from their seats, the bill was passed via a voice vote amid ongoing protests.

The passage of the bill marks a significant step toward modernizing India’s maritime trade framework, aligning it with global standards, and fostering a business-friendly environment. Despite the contentious atmosphere, the legislation underscores the government’s commitment to updating archaic laws while navigating the challenges of a polarized parliamentary session.

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