Govt forced to defer key education reforms bill

Government faced embarrassment in the Rajya Sabha today as it was forced to defer a key education reforms bill, following strong opposition from members cutting across party lines. HRD Minister Kapil Sibal had to make a hasty retreat after the Education Tribunal Bill, 2010, came under all- round attack, including from senior Congress leader K Keshava Rao.

This is despite the fact that the bill, seeking to create a mechanism for providing speedy resolution of disputes pertaining to higher education institutions, was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 26. UPA does not have a majority in the Upper House. “Considering the sentiments of honourable members of this House, I request that the consideration of the bill be deferred to the next session,” Sibal said. The minister at the same time disagreed with the apprehensions expressed by the opposition, saying, “We are not in any way infringing upon the rights of the states. It’s a significant piece of legislation and if members want a larger debate, we have no problem.”

The decision to defer the bill followed uproar by the opposition members over Sibal’s observation that he is ready to “bow down” if there was any “substance” in the opposition. Irked by the remark, BJP and BSP members were on their feet, demanding the minister to withdraw the remarks which forced Sibal to apologise if his remarks “cast any aspersion on any member”. Senior Congress leader K Keshava Rao, who earlier said that “this kind of hasty legislation does not augur well”, later said he was not opposed to the Bill. “I supported the bill,” he said, welcoming the “reformist approach of the minister”.

Defending the bill earlier, Sibal said the government is doing something that is required. “I believe some of the Standing Committee recommendations will be taken care of through rules,” he added. He said there was “not a single note of dissent” from any state or any stakeholder to the bill and the four non-Congress ruled states — Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala — have sent formal letters of support.