Lok Sabha passes Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill

The Lok Sabha passed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, with Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal asserting that the new legislation is part of the government’s broader initiative to eliminate colonial-era laws and simplify maritime regulations for the ease of doing business. The Bill, which replaces the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925, aligns India’s maritime law with international conventions and seeks to modernise provisions governing the carriage of goods by sea.

“This new legislation is a part of the greater initiative of the government to rid ourselves of all vestiges of the colonial mindset and ensure ease of understanding and ease of doing business through simple and rationalised law,” Sonowal said while replying to the debate in the House.

He emphasised that the Bill aims to provide clear responsibilities, liabilities, rights and immunities for carriers in the shipping industry, ensuring a smooth implementation.

The minister also highlighted that the new law would make maritime trade regulations more effective while granting the central government the authority to issue directions for smooth implementation.

The Bill was passed by a voice vote in the Lok Sabha after discussion. It was originally introduced in the House on August 9 last year.

The opposition, while acknowledging the need to modernise maritime laws, raised several concerns about the Bill’s potential impact on Indian traders, industries and the domestic shipping sector.

Congress MP from Kanyakumari, Vijay Vasanth, said while aligning India’s maritime laws with international standards was important, the Bill left gaps that needed to be addressed. He also flagged concerns over excessive powers granted to the central government.

“Section 9 of the Bill empowers the central government to amend the Schedule by issuing notifications. While flexibility is important, this provision grants the government unchecked powers to make amendments without adequate consultation with industry stakeholders,” he said.

Samajwadi Party MP Aditya Yadav went further and called for the withdrawal of the Bill, alleging that it was designed to benefit crony capitalists.