The Hindu : National : Brinda leads walkout over delay in Forest Act rules

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 30, 2007
ePaper

National

National

Brinda leads walkout over delay in Forest Act rules

Special Correspondent

“Government should come clean on the issue”

Rules not notified
even after vetting
by Law Ministry
“This is subversion of Parliament’s will”

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha once again witnessed noisy scenes and a subsequent walkout by Communist Party of India (Marxist) members led by Brinda Karat over the delay in notifying rules for the Forest Rights Act. The law was passed by Parliament more than a year ago.

Reacting sharply to Minister of State for Environment and Forests S. Regupathy’s reply on the issue of protecting the rights of forest-dwellers, Ms. Karat pointed out that his Ministry was not competent to give a reply in the matter, which pertained to the Tribal Affairs Ministry. “How can the government implement an Act without notification of the rules,” she asked.

Chairman Hamid Ansari asked her to raise a relevant supplementary and said she could seek a clarification on other issues through established norms. The point she raised was not associated with the listed question, he said.

However, Ms. Karat stood her ground and said it was unfortunate that the rules were not notified even after the Law Ministry had vetted and sent them back to the Ministry concerned. “I have been informed by the Law Minister that they have done their job. The government should come clean on the issue. This is subversion of the will of Parliament. The Forest and Environment Minister has no right to implement the Act without its rules being notified.” As the government did not respond, Ms. Karat led the walkout.

Assurance in Lok Sabha

In the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi assured the House that the government was doing its best to notify at the earliest the Scheduled Tribes & Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2007.

After Ramji Lal Suman (Samajwadi Party) raised the issue of delay, the Minister said United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also concerned at it.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National