Oppn forces Sibal to apologise for "misleading" Rajya Sabha

It had allegied that Sibal "misled" RS while getting JAC bill passed in "haste"

Opposition today forced Law Minister Kapil Sibal to apologise in Rajya Sabha for failing to get a Constitution Amendment Bill passed in the Lok Sabha, alleging that he "misled" the Upper House while getting it passed in "haste".

Attacking Sibal for not sending the bill to the Standing Committee as desired by majority of members in Rajya Sabha, BJP created ruckus leading to two adjournments soon after the House met for the day. BJP also charged the government with not doing its home work.

"I say once again that despite our best efforts, I am sorry that the bill could not be passed in the Lok Sabha. I regret it," Sibal said silencing the opposition which was not allowing the House to function till he apologised.

Sibal had earlier had expressed regret saying, "I am deeply anguished with the fact that Constitutional Amendment Bill could not be taken up by Lok Sabha."

Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), however, said, "Home work was not done. We were misled into passing it...The Minister has committed a mistake, he should feel sorry for his act. Law Minister should apologise to the House. He must apologise, anguish would not do."

Sibal told the House that there was some error in the title of the bill. When introduced, it was titled 120th Constitution Amendment Bill, but when passed it should have read as 99th Constitution Amendment Bill.

"The Secretariat realised some error has taken place. The patent error was immediately intimated to the Chairman who corrected it and transmitted to Lok Sabha. The bill was printed and ready for passage. However, I regret despite our best efforts it could not be taken up by Lok Sabha. It was not intentional," he said.

Earlier, Prasad said the entire opposition wanted such an important bill to be sent to the Standing Committee as it was an important judicial legislation which paves the way for creation of a Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to replace the present collegium system to appoint judges to higher courts.