A renewed debate on work–life balance surfaced in Parliament on Friday as Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule introduced the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha. The private member’s bill seeks to grant employees the legal right to decline work-related calls, messages, and emails outside designated office hours.
According to PTI, the proposed legislation recommends the creation of an Employees’ Welfare Authority to ensure that workers are not compelled to respond to official communication after working hours or on holidays. The bill also outlines provisions empowering employees to refuse digital work engagement without fear of professional consequences.
Private member’s bills enable MPs to highlight matters they believe require legislative action, although such bills rarely become law. Most are withdrawn following the government’s response. Sule’s proposal arrives amid a busy Winter Session that commenced on December 1 and includes 15 sittings scheduled until December 19.
The current Parliamentary session is also taking place under the shadow of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls across 12 states, a process that has generated political debate.
Other Key Bills Introduced
Several MPs put forward additional proposals addressing social, linguistic, and workplace issues:
-
Congress MP Kadiyam Kavya introduced the Menstrual Benefits Bill, 2024, calling for a legal framework that ensures adequate facilities and support for women during menstruation.
-
LJP MP Shambhavi Choudhary proposed guaranteed paid menstrual leave for women workers and students, along with improved access to menstrual hygiene and healthcare.
-
Congress MP Manickam Tagore presented a bill seeking to exempt Tamil Nadu from the NEET requirement for undergraduate medical admissions, following the Centre’s refusal to approve the state’s anti-NEET legislation.
-
Independent MP Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil introduced the Journalist (Prevention of Violence and Protection) Bill, 2024, aimed at preventing attacks on media professionals and safeguarding their property.
-
BJP MP Ganesh Singh moved the Supreme Court – Use of Hindi in Proceedings and Other Provisions Bill, 2024, proposing greater use of Hindi in the functioning of the country’s apex court.
These proposals highlight a wide spectrum of policy concerns—ranging from workplace rights and gender-inclusive benefits to regional autonomy and journalist safety—currently shaping discussions in the Winter Session.
