Govt may consider corporate lobbying rules

Khurshid says he may discuss this issue with other ministries.

The Union corporate affairs ministry today said it might have discussions with other ministries on the issue of corporate lobbying rules.

This comes after the controversy around the leakage of conversations of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia with politicians, company executives and journalists. Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata has moved the Supreme Court against more of the taped revelations.

Speaking to reporters after addressing a seminar, minister Salman Khurshid said, “There is no law on this (corporate lobbying) now, but we can examine it...we don't have anything in the draft that is before Parliament and we may have to find some other way of regulating it. I think it will have to be taken to all the ministers together with a view... only then, can we move forward.”

He added: “Nothing wrong in a person promoting a particular point of view, but we need to say there is no conflict of interest.”

He also said the National Company Law Tribunal would not be in place till after the budget session of Parliament.