Oppn criticises govt for bringing key bills at short notice

Opposition members in Lok Sabha today criticised the government for bringing two key bills related to shipping at a short notice for approval by the House, saying "this is becoming a practice" of the new dispensation.
The opposition members raised the issue during the debate on two bills -- The Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and the Merchant Shipping (Second) Amendment, Bill 2013.
They said these bills were not listed in the revised list of business and they were not given opportunity to study the legislation being brought by the government.
They rued that the bills were brought for consideration and passage after stopping debate on natural calamities.

Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari brought the bills in Lok Sabha through second supplementary list of business, a day after these were cleared by Rajya Sabha after discussion.
When the issue was brought to the notice of the Chair by his colleagues in opposition benches including K C Venugopal (Cong), Bharthruhari Mehtab (BJD) said the agenda should be prepared in advance and members should get time to study it.

"This is becoming a practice (of this government). This should be avoided," he said.
Later, Lok Sabha cleared the bill.
The Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill, 2013 was brought to amend the Merchant Shipping Act to protect marine environment and human health from adverse effects of the use of listed harmful anti-fouling systems under a global convention.

The Merchant Shipping (Second) Amendment, Bill 2013 to amend the Merchant Shipping Act was brought to enable India to accede to a global convention that exempts Indian vessels on international voyages from inspection and aimed at improving the working condition of seafarers.