Crucial Bills unlikely to be discussed in Parliament

Crucial Bills unlikely to be discussed in Parliament
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI, FEB 17: Going by the list of business prepared by the NDA Government for the budget session of Parliament, it would seem that the MPs have a busy schedule upahead. But crucial Bills, such as the one on women's reservation, the Lok Pal Bill, The Freedom of Information Bill and the CVC Bill, are unlikely to be taken up for consideration.

The Parliamentary Affairs Ministry has identified 36 Bills which would be accorded ``top priority'' during the ensuing session. These include, besides the railway and general budgets, the Constitution (85th amendment) Bill seeking 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights bill, the Lok Pal Bill and the Central Vigilance Commission Bill.

The NDA Government's proclamations notwithstanding, the Bills are likely to stay on the backburner. The Women's Reservation Bill has been there on the Government business for the last four years, but with a consensus eluding political parties, the ruling alliance is likely to find it difficult to initiate a discussion on the Bill.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan, while speaking to newspersons in Coimbatore today, hinted at the difficulties in getting the Bill passed. ``An orderly House is required for the smooth passage of the Bill, which seeks to amend the Constitution,'' he said, adding: ``All the members should be present in the House to make it orderly and the Bill requires not only two-thirds of the votes, but 50 per cent of the total voting strength for itspassage.''

``Nevertheless, we're optimistic and we'll once again try to convince the parties about the need to pass the Bill,'' he said.

Despite being passed by the standing committee, the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Bill, a WTO-related Bill, also may not be passed during the session owing to the opposition of the Left parties.

With Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee making it clear that he would like the PMO to be brought within its purview, the Lok Pal Bill has cleared a hurdle, but it stll has to reckon with the opposition of MPs who are divided over the issue.

The CVC Bill too has been cleared by the standing committee, but the Government is dragging its feet and there is a feeling that it is not too keen to ensure its passage.

In addition, there are over a score of Bills lying either with the standing or the joint select committees. These include, the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) amendment Bill, the Patents (second amendment) Bill, the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertaking) Bill, the Finance Companies Regulation Bill, the Election Laws (amendment) Bill, the Code of Civil Procedure (amendment) Bill and the Freedom of Information Bill.