Frame guidelines to define money bill: RS members

A section of Rajya Sabha members on Wednesday called for framing of guidelines on what defines a money bill. They urged the upper house chairman to convey to the Lok Sabha speaker their concern in this regard.

Just before the upper house took up the "black money bill", Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal questioned the bill being declared a money bill.

"If each bill is made a finance bill what is the right of the Rajya Sabha," Agarwal said raising the issue.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien clarified that it was the prerogative of the Lok Sabha speaker to decide which bill will be a money bill.

"The constitution does not provide this house to decide which bill is a money bill. It is for the Lok Sabha speaker to certify," said Kurien.

Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury said they were not questioning the decision of the Lok Sabha speaker but the feeling of members might be conveyed.

"Irrespective of what the speaker decides, which is her constitutional right, we can send an opinion from this house as to what is a money bill," said Yechury.

He was backed by Trinamool Congress member Derek O'Brien, who suggested that a committee may be set up to define what is a money bill.

Union Minister for Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad, however, wondered whether the members wanted to change the constitution.

Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav also opined that the discussion was futile as it went against the constitution.

"It is not about a day, it has been happening for 68 years. Such debate is not good, nor should we give any suggestion," said Yadav.

Yechury, however, added that the speaker can decide the criteria. "Let speaker decide what is a money bill... we are not giving sermons," said Yechury.

Kurien questioned if the upper house had the right to give any suggestion, to which an angry Yechury said he felt that the rights of the Rajya Sabha members were being curtailed.

"Why not? My rights as a member are being curtailed," he said.

Kurien then said he would "convey" the sentiment of the house to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad also joined in and said: "This bill has been made a money bill just to undermine the position of the Rajya Sabha. We want to caution the finance minister that this should not be repeated in future."