The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Bill to annul law on forced conversions introduced

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Bill to annul law on forced conversions introduced

Special Correspondent

Bill to repeal the Tamil Nadu Essential Services Maintenance Act tabled

CHENNAI: Law Minister I. Periasami on Monday introduced in the Assembly two Bills to repeal the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion Act and the Tamil Nadu Essential Services Maintenance Act (TESMA).

The statement of objects and reasons of the Bill on prohibition of forced conversions says that though it was repealed by an Ordinance, it was not "replaced by introducing a Bill in the Legislative Assembly." Hence, the Ordinance has lapsed. "Now, the Government have decided to repeal the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion Act, 2002 (Tamil Nadu Act 56 of 2002) by introducing a Bill in the current session of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly."

The TESMA (Repeal) Act would come into force immediately after it is passed and "all proceedings thereunder pending immediately before the commencement of this Act, before any court or authority shall abate." This was done to "instil a sense of confidence and create a better understanding and congenial working atmosphere."

The statement of objects and reasons said that a section in the Act was used to dismiss 1.7 lakh government employees. "Even while granting relief, the Supreme Court of India has made it clear that it has not dealt with grievances of the employees against various orders issued by the State Government affecting their service benefits." Besides, associations had expressed "apprehension and reservation" over provisions in the Act and some provisions were "draconian in character and has already been challenged in Courts."

Unapproved layouts

Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin said that a decision on unapproved layouts would be taken in line with the expectations of the members. He was responding to C.Govindasamy (CPI-M), who claimed that an order issued by the AIADMK government last January had led to unbearable burden on those who had built houses.

There were hundreds of unapproved layouts across the State and the government had to provide them with basic amenities, he said and faulted the AIADMK for refusing to even provide water to residents of these layouts. The government order issued in January decreed that people pay development charges ranging between Rs.24,000 and Rs.1.25 lakhs, he said and added that at many places even the land cost was less than the amounts sought to be collected as development charges.

Mr.Stalin said that the government was seized of the issue and he had already discussed this with the Chief Minister. Answering C.Gnanasekharan (Cong), he said that the scheme would be applicable to the entire State and not restricted to a few cities.

Mr.Govindasamy also wanted bifurcation of Coimbatore district and requested that Tiruppur be made the headquarters of the new district carved out. He claimed that no efforts were made to solve the pollution issue in the area and wanted the personal attention of the Chief Minister to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Mr. Govindasamy said that the government should ensure that there was no privatisation of bus routes in future. He also wanted the government to conduct elections to cooperatives after removing the bogus members.

Earlier, members of the House observed a two-minute silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the Indonesian earthquake. It passed a resolution condoling the loss of life there.

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