Patents Bill fiasco: Khurana
blames it on officials
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Dec 25 — The saga of inability to legislate on the Patents Bill in the Lok Sabha on the last day of winter session today took another turn with the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Madan Lal Khurana, blaming ministry officials for ‘technical error’ and ordering an inquiry into the lapse.

After having blamed the Congress yesterday for changing its stance which he said has resulted in the Bill not coming up for discussion on the last day of the winter session, the minister today also expressed ‘regrets’ for involving the President.

The Patents Bill, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha on December 22, was expected to come up for consideration in the Lok Sabha on December 23 but beyond introduction of the Vananchal Bill nothing else came up before the House was adjourned abruptly sine die.

Mr Khurana, briefing reporters after the session indicated that the Patents Bill could not be introduced for paucity of time and a variety of reasons and suggested that even though the President had given his nod, the Bill was held up.

However, reports in a section of the press suggested that the Presidential assent came on the morning of December 23 and the Patents Bill could not be circulated in time for members' perusal.

The government’s embarrassment was complete when Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday denied that the Patents Bill was sent to the President for approval.

Mr Khurana, today said at a press conference that the controversy over the Bill was ‘needless’ and that he had apologised to the President and explained to him the sequence which resulted in such a statement being attributed to him.

"I have written a letter to the President and explained to him. It was not my intention to blame Rashtrapatiji. I was given the impression by the Secretary that the Bills were collected from Rashtrapati Bhavan that morning (December 23). I have asked Secretary of Parliamentary Affairs Ministry to find out where the lapse occurred," Mr Khurana said.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister explained that the Patents Bill was not required to be sent to the President since it was neither a money or financial bill.

He clarified that the Bill sent was one pertaining to an amendment to provide railway passes for former MPs to be incorporated in the Salaries, Allowances and Pension for Parliamentarians Act while a ‘technical misgiving’ resulted in the confusion.

Asked as to how the Congress could be blamed when the party had ensured the smooth passage of the Patents Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Khurana said Congress leaders backtracked at a meeting later on December 23, seeking more time for discussion.

He said some prominent Congress MPs who had earlier that day agreed to ensure its passage later demanded more time and did not agree to extend the House sitting.

Mr Khurana said it was to the credit of the BJP-led coalition that important Bills, including women’s reservation and creation of states of Uttaranchal, Vananchal and Chhattisgarh were introduced.

Giving statistics of the government’s work, he said 19 Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha and five in the Rajya Sabha while these Houses passed 14 and 17 Bills, respectively.

Parliament enacted 12 pieces of legislation, including amendments to the Customs and Income Tax Acts, and the introduction of Rs 1000 notes etc.