The Hindu : New Delhi News : Another Bill rejected by Select Committee

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Saturday, Feb 04, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Another Bill rejected by Select Committee

Staff Reporter

Red faces in Govt. as second Bill rejected in two successive days

NEW DELHI: Indicating increasing confrontation between the Congress party and the Congress-led Delhi Government, the Select Committee of the Delhi Assembly headed by Rohtas Nagar MLA Ram Babu Sharma on Friday "unanimously rejected" the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2004. This is the second Bill rejected by a Select Committee in two successive days.

Interestingly, Finance and Urban Development Minister A.K. Walia was also present at the meeting that unanimously rejected the Bill to enhance provision of penalties in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The Select Committee rejected all 10 amendments section-wise suggested in the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Second Amendment) Bill that had led to an uproar in the Delhi Assembly in August 2004. Apart from Dr. Walia, the other members present during the meeting included Bhisham Sharma, Surinder Pal Singh, Sahib Singh Chauhan, S.P. Ratawal and Dharam Deo Solanki.

The Bill had run into trouble after it was tabled in the Vidhan Sabha during the Monsoon Session in August 2004. Both the ruling party and Opposition members had protested against the "massive" enhancement in penalties as proposed in the Bill and had sought its withdrawal. However, later it was agreed that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee headed by Mr. Ram Babu Sharma to study the matter further and suggest necessary changes in the Bill. However, after carrying out its deliberations for almost one and a half years and making the comparison of penalties with Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata, the Select Committee on Friday decided to reject the Bill in its present shape. The Committee refused to even consider the amendments suggested in the Bill and went ahead with the rejection describing the provisions as anti-people and aimed at increasing inspector raj and corruption in the Corporation.

It is learnt that as soon as the meeting started, Mr. Ram Babu Sharma said that in view of the unanimity among members about the provisions of the Bill, it had been decided that it be rejected. However, Dr. Walia said he did not agree with the suggestion of the Chair and wanted to lodge his dissent. At this, Mr. Sharma asked Dr. Walia to list out his views so that they could be deliberated upon. He is learnt to have stated that siding with the Bill in present shape would be against the basic principles and ideology of the Congress party. At this, Dr. Walia also decided to go with the majority decision and the Bill was rejected unanimously.

On Thursday, another Select Committee had rejected the Delhi Water (Amendment) Bill, 2005. These developments certainly do not come as good news for Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit who is now faced with increased defiance by the party MLAs. DPCC president Ram Babu Sharma has also made his differences with the Chief Minister publicly known and has been confronting the Government on various important issues.

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