The Hindu : New Delhi News : Two Bills passed in BJP’s absence

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Tuesday, Apr 01, 2008
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New Delhi

Two Bills passed in BJP’s absence

Staff Reporter

“Bill will provide more opportunity to Executive Board”
“Steps will be taken to have gurdwara polls every 5 years”

NEW DELHI: On a day when the Opposition BJP members were not present in the House for the third consecutive day owing to their suspension, the Delhi Assembly on Monday passed “The Delhi Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill-2008” and “The Prevention of Defacement of Property Bill-2007.”

Speaking on the Gurdwaras Bill, Education Minister said the Delhi Government did not want to interfere in the internal matters of the Sikhs and had only brought the Bill to provide greater opportunity to the Executive Board members to concentrate on various welfare programmes and the work relating to various institutions run by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. He said the amendment has been brought in because, while the general election to the gurdwaras are held every four years, the Executive Board members are elected every year. Since preparations for the elections took up about four months, only around eight months would be left for it to focus on the work. Now, he said, the term of the executive has been increased to two years, which would help it perform better. He also assured that steps would soon be initiated to conduct the general elections to the gurdwaras every five years instead of four years as at present.

The House also passed the Prevention of Defacement Bill that provides for an imprisonment for up to one year and fine up to Rs.50,000 for whoever defaces any property in public view. It also states when any offence is committed for an individual, company, corporate body or association of persons, the president, chairman, director, partner, manager, secretary, agent or any other person associated with the management thereof would be deemed guilty unless he or she is able to prove otherwise.

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