45 Bills ready for winter session
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 27 — A semblance of stability restored is evident from the legislative business prepared by the Atal Behari Vajpayee government for the winter session of Parliament starting here on Monday.

Although the government did manage to legislate and introduce a few important Bills during the brief eight-day opening session between October 20 and 29, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has listed 45 Bills that it plans to move during the four-week session in addition to four that are already pending in the 13th Lok Sabha.

During the last session, Parliament extended the reservation for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes in Parliament and the legislatives for another 10 years, starting January, 2000. The session also saw the introduction of the contentious Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Bill as well as the one to prevent money laundering.

In addition to the Bills to support economic reforms, the government plans to move the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill providing for one-third reservation for women in Parliament and the legislatives, which is being opposed by the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party who want a quota for castes within the provision.

Fireworks are also expected as and when the government moves other Constitutional Amendment Bills providing for the reorganisation of states and the creation of Uttaranchal, Vananchal and Chattisgarh.

Although these Bills were moved amid much turmoil in the previous Lok Sabha, the House was dissolved before it could commit itself to any discussion on these Bills.

There is stiff opposition from the Shiromani Akali Dal on the question of including Udham Singh Nagar district in the proposed state of Uttaranchal while the Rashtriya Janata Dal is set against the division of Bihar and the creation of Vananchal comprising a mineral-rich area. Only Chhattisgarh is less contentious since the ruling Congress party in the state supports the move for carving it out of Madhya Pradesh.

A proposal to set up a National Judicial Commission through a constitutional amendment relating to the appointment of judges in higher judiciary and related matters, is also listed in the agenda of government business for the forthcoming session.

The government also proposes to move a Bill amending the Indian Penal Code and provide death penalty for rape and another to ban the state-run lotteries.

The Lok Pal Bill to establish an institution to inquire into the allegations of corruption against public functionaries, the Central Vigilance Commission Bill and the Anti-Corruption and Election Law (Amendment) Bill to provide sanctioning authority for the prosecution of MPs and MLAs under the Prevention of Corruption Act and consequent disqualification under the Representation of People Act could also be moved.

The Information Technology Bill to make provisions for the security and use of electronic transactions and matters connected therewith is also listed in the agenda.

An act to replace the ordinance amending the Special Protection Group Act providing for a security cover to former PMs and to members of their families for 10 years and beyond, depending on the threat perception, will also be moved.

On the economic front, the Opposition, particularly the Congress has not yet made its stand clear on the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, although the party President Ms Sonia Gandhi, has promised to extend support to the Government in furthering the economic reforms process with the rider that it will be done as long as it is in conformity with the party’s approach on the issue.

The government also plans to introduce the Foreign Exchange Management Bill to repeal and replace the 1973 Foreign Exchange Regulatory Authority Act, the Patents (Amendment) Bill to fulfil international obligations in accordance with the agreement on trade related aspects of intellectual property by January 1, and another to strengthen the legal framework for the recovery of non-performing assets of banks/financial institutions is also on the anvil.