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Opposition MPs want torture bill referred to select committee

Gargi Parsai

The Bill has not been vetted by any committee
It is meant to harmonise India's law with U.N. Convention

NEW DELHI: In a bid to remove the flaws in the Prevention of Torture Bill, 2010, 10 Opposition members of the Rajya Sabha on Friday gave notice for an amendment motion on the Bill to refer it to a Select Committee of the House. The Bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on May 6 without any change, has not been vetted by any committee.

The notice for referring the Bill to a Select Committee, that will go through the entire procedure of consultation as a standing committee relating to the concerned ministry would, was moved by Brinda Karat (CPI-M), Prakash Javdekar (BJP), D. Raja (CPI), N.K. Singh (JD-U), Brijesh Pathak (BSP), Mohan Singh (SP), Mysura Reddy (TDP), Barun Mukherji (All-India Forward Bloc), V. Maitreyan (AIADMK) and Bhalchandra Mungekar (Nominated). According to Ms. Karat, the notice was admitted.

The notice, which has been admitted according to Ms. Karat, would now be considered when the Bill is brought to the House by the Home Minister for consideration and passing. If the amendment motion is agreed to by the government or is carried through voting, then the Bill would be referred to the Select Committee. All members who have moved the amendment would then become members of the Select panel.

The Bill was slated for consideration and passing on Friday but was not taken up as no new Bills are normally be taken up after 5 pm. Most members who moved the amendment motion opposed discussion on the Bill when it was sought to be moved by the government.

The Bill is meant to harmonise the country's law with the United Nations Convention Against Torture (CAT). It is flawed in its definition of ‘torture,' the punitive measures for torturing any person, the limited time-period for a victim to file a complaint and the in-built protection it provides to a torturer.

The Rajya Sabha provides the last opportunity for the Bill to be amended to remove the glaring flaws.

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