Wednesday, Dec 17, 2003
Wednesday, Dec 17, 2003 |
| National | ||||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Entertainment |
Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | National
By Our Special Correspondent
The Bill replaces the Delimitation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2003 promulgated by the President on October 31, 2003. A statutory resolution moved by the Congress disapproving the Ordinance was withdrawn. Seeking clarifications, Opposition members expressed the apprehension that those States which had performed well in stabilising population should not be at a disadvantage when delimitation was done. They also wanted that delimitation be done at least six months in advance of general elections. In his reply, the Union Minister of State for Law, P.C. Thomas, said the legislation was intended to give effect to the Constitution (87th Amendment) Act to provide for delimitation of constituencies on the basis of the 2001 census report. Barring three States — Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland — the final report of the Registrar General of India is expected to be published by December 31, he said. On the issue of linking delimitation with population and the apprehension of the performing States who have reduced population to "lose some seats," the Minister said this was debated at the time of the 87th amendment of the Constitution. "The matter would be considered later when the Constitution is to be amended further. Territorial jurisdiction is the matter decided at this stage. It is a serious aspect which will have to be considered later. We are limited by the Constitution amendment." He said the suggestions for reservation for women in the legislative Assemblies and Parliament was also under serious consideration. "The Government is trying to see that it is brought to implementation soon." Mr. Thomas said as soon as the final draft proposals of the Delimitation Commission were received, they would be published in local papers and there would be public hearings. Only after that the order would be notified. When Ramdeo Bhandary (RJD) sought to know whether the Delimitation Commission would complete its report before the elections, Mr. Thomas said he did not know when elections would be held. "It is for the Delimitation Commission and the effort on their part. When and whether before elections, at this stage no one can say."
Bill lowering interest on tax returns passed The Rajya Sabha also passed the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2003 that lowers the rate of interest paid on income tax refunds to six per cent. The Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh, in his reply to the debate said the Government had to promulgate an ordinance to amend the tax laws after realising that high value access were paying a lot of advance tax at the beginning of the fiscal to earn high interest rate the Income Tax Department paid on refunds.``The revenue department is not a bank... this had to be stopped,'' he said. Mr. Singh said the amendment also provided for lowering of tax on liquor at the source point (brewery) to one per cent from 10 per cent after several State Governments represented to the Centre that such a tax rate would make the industry collapse and hurt their revenues. — PTI
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Entertainment |
Miscellaneous |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | Home |
Copyright © 2003, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
