Rajya Sabha takes up TRAI bill

The Rajya Sabha Tuesday took up a bill to amend the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act.

The bill replaces an ordinance brought by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government to facilitate appointment of Nripendra Misra as the principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Misra is a former chairman of TRAI.

The bill seeks to amend the act which prohibited the TRAI chairman and members from taking up any other job in the central or state governments after demitting office.

Opposing the legislation, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said: "The bill is a violation of law. The prime minister had many other options rather than going against law."

"It is mala fide to make or change a law for just one person," Aiyar said.

"There is only one reason, prime minister is adamant on having him (Misra). This is a total authoritarian manner," he said.

Misra is a 1967-batch retired Indian Administrative Service officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre and his appointment as the principal secretary to the prime minister will be co-terminus with the term of the prime minister or till further orders.

The bill met with opposition from the Congress and other opposition parties, which questioned why the government was changing regulations for one person.