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Opp blocks Bill for poll-bound UP
The Government faced yet another embarrassment on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha when the Opposition forced it to defer the introduction of a Bill for setting up an agricultural university in Bundelkhand region of poll-bound UP. This setback came a day after the Government failed to get the Constitutional Amendment Bill on Lokpal passed in the Lok Sabha as it could not muster required numbers.
The Government had to defer the introduction of the Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University Bill, 2011 in the Upper House when the Opposition said it was against the provisions of the Constitution and insisted on division of votes when Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar sought permission to introduce the Bill.
“Introduction of the Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University Bill, 2011 is deferred,” Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan announced, as the Government could not get support from the Left and BJP members even after three adjournments. The UPA does not enjoy majority in the Rajya Sabha which has an effective strength of 243 members.
The Government had to withdraw or defer two more bills during the ongoing winter session. These bills included Commercial Division of High Courts and Copyright (Amendment) Bill.
Trouble for the Government began soon after Pawar sought permission to introduce the bill and CPM member P Rajeev stood up and said as per the Union List, the central government does not have the right to bring legislation for incorporation of a university.
While Pawar insisted the government was within its right to do so, Chandan Mitra (BJP) and some of his party colleagues backed Rajeeve’s contention and sought an explanation from the Government on this count. Mitra said, “The member (Rajeev) has raised a valid point and setting up a university is not in the Union Government’s domain but of the State.”
Countering Mitra’s argument, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said as per the Concurrent List, the union government can set up a university. This led to sharp exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches and Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan said Rajeeve should have given notice to raise his objection to the bill and overruled his objection.
The CPM member protested and said the agenda for business in the Upper House was circulated on Wednesday morning and he had no time to give notice. Moreover, “constitutional provisions cannot be replaced by precedence,” Rajeeve said, adding as per entry number 44 in the Union List, Schedule 7 of the Constitution, incorporation of a university was under jurisdiction of the state government.
Unable to restore order, Khan adjourned the house for the first time at 11.15 am for 30 minutes when he put the introduction of the bill to vote where the Opposition benches first vociferously protested and then sought division.
The Government, however, was not able to resolve the issue during the first adjournment with the determined Opposition and proceedings were then adjourned for ten minutes two more times before Khan announced the decision to defer the introduction of the bill.
Earlier, defending the Government’s move to introduce the bill, Pawar cited precedence of central agriculture university in Imphal to say the Central government had the powers to do so.
Sibal said the Concurrent List gives Centre the power to legislate on technical, medical, vocational institutions and universities. Khan also said the Concurrent List provided central government powers to set up a central university. “After examination, I overrule your objections,” he then gave his ruling on Rajeeve’s objection.
The Government faced yet another embarrassment on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha when the Opposition forced it to defer the introduction of a Bill for setting up an agricultural university in Bundelkhand region of poll-bound UP. This setback came a day after the Government failed to get the Constitutional Amendment Bill on Lokpal passed in the Lok Sabha as it could not muster required numbers.
The Government had to defer the introduction of the Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University Bill, 2011 in the Upper House when the Opposition said it was against the provisions of the Constitution and insisted on division of votes when Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar sought permission to introduce the Bill.
“Introduction of the Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University Bill, 2011 is deferred,” Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan announced, as the Government could not get support from the Left and BJP members even after three adjournments. The UPA does not enjoy majority in the Rajya Sabha which has an effective strength of 243 members.
The Government had to withdraw or defer two more bills during the ongoing winter session. These bills included Commercial Division of High Courts and Copyright (Amendment) Bill.
Trouble for the Government began soon after Pawar sought permission to introduce the bill and CPM member P Rajeev stood up and said as per the Union List, the central government does not have the right to bring legislation for incorporation of a university.
While Pawar insisted the government was within its right to do so, Chandan Mitra (BJP) and some of his party colleagues backed Rajeeve’s contention and sought an explanation from the Government on this count. Mitra said, “The member (Rajeev) has raised a valid point and setting up a university is not in the Union Government’s domain but of the State.”
Countering Mitra’s argument, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said as per the Concurrent List, the union government can set up a university. This led to sharp exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches and Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan said Rajeeve should have given notice to raise his objection to the bill and overruled his objection.
The CPM member protested and said the agenda for business in the Upper House was circulated on Wednesday morning and he had no time to give notice. Moreover, “constitutional provisions cannot be replaced by precedence,” Rajeeve said, adding as per entry number 44 in the Union List, Schedule 7 of the Constitution, incorporation of a university was under jurisdiction of the state government.
Unable to restore order, Khan adjourned the house for the first time at 11.15 am for 30 minutes when he put the introduction of the bill to vote where the Opposition benches first vociferously protested and then sought division.
The Government, however, was not able to resolve the issue during the first adjournment with the determined Opposition and proceedings were then adjourned for ten minutes two more times before Khan announced the decision to defer the introduction of the bill.
Earlier, defending the Government’s move to introduce the bill, Pawar cited precedence of central agriculture university in Imphal to say the Central government had the powers to do so.
Sibal said the Concurrent List gives Centre the power to legislate on technical, medical, vocational institutions and universities. Khan also said the Concurrent List provided central government powers to set up a central university. “After examination, I overrule your objections,” he then gave his ruling on Rajeeve’s objection.
