The Opposition forced the government's hand in the Rajya Sabha, stopping two important legislations put on the fast track for passage on the last day of its winter session on Tuesday (December 22).

These were among the five that the government rushed through the Lok Sabha the previous week without debate amid the Telangana pandemonium before it was adjourned sine die.

The business advisory committee of the Upper House refused to let the two bills listed on agenda for discussion and passage. One bill that seeks to create a separate commercial division in the High Courts was referred to the select committee while the other one, aimed at amending the Trade Marks Act, was deferred for the next session for discussion.

Subsequently, Law Minister M Veerappa Moily brought a resolution seeking select committee's report within six weeks. The government will be thus able to bring it in the budget session in February. The bill provides for separate commercial division in the High Courts with judges expert in accountancy and commercial matters to fast-track financial disputes of Rs 5 crores and above.

The Trade Marks (Amendment) Bill, 2009, that will now come up before the Rajya Sabha in the next session aims at enabling a person seeking global trade marks through a single application by depositing a single fee in India.

In an end-of-session Press conference, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal announced that the constitution amendment bill for 33 per cent reservation for women in the legislature would also be brought before the parliament in the next session. A parliamentary standing committee submitted its report earlier in the week, giving its nod to introduce and pass the reservation bill in its present form.