RS to take up GST, enemy property, benami transaction bills

The government is likely to table in the Rajya Sabha several crucial bills, including that on GST and for amendments to legislations on enemy property and benami transaction, next week.
About five-and-a-half hours have been allocated for discussion on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in the Rajya Sabha.
The constitutional amendment bill on GST, which had earlier been passed by the Lok Sabha, has again been listed there next week. Sources said if the bill is passed by the Rajya Sabha with amendments, it has to be taken up in the Lok Sabha again.
According to sources, the Rajya Sabha will take up the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2015, and the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016, next week.

The government has also listed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, the Dentists (Amendment) Bill, along with a few others, for the Upper House.
In the Lok Sabha, the government has listed for introduction the Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, the Central Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill and the Employees Compensation (Amendment) Bill.

The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill seeks to make changes to the Enemy Property Act, 1968. Last month, the government had for a third time promulgated an ordinance to amend the law to guard against claims of succession or transfer of properties left by people who migrated to Pakistan and China after the wars.

The bill was passed by Lok Sabha on March 9. However, it could not get the Rajya Sabha nod from where it was referred to a Select Committee. The Committee has recently submitted its report. An ordinance lapses after 42 days from the day a session begins unless a bill to replace it is approved by Parliament.
As per the proposed amendments, once an enemy property is vested in the Custodian, it shall continue to be vested in him as enemy property irrespective of whether the enemy, enemy subject or enemy firm has ceased to be an enemy due to reasons such as death, etc.

Among the other bills adopted by a voice vote today
include The Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to amend the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority Act 1985 to change the nomenclature of some posts of authorities representing the authority in the interest of administration;
The Karnataka State Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to amend the act of 2000 to rename the "Karnataka State Women University" as "Karnataka State Akkamahadevi Women University" in the honour of 12th centenary Kannada saint poet Akkamahadevi who also fought for women's rights;
BJP members Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and Govinda Karajola, who participated in the debate, asked government to focus on improving the quality of education and infrastructure at the University and put the ongoing inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the appointments there, to fast track.

Also adopted today is The Karnataka State Civil Services (Regulation of Transfer and Postings of Forest Officers and Other Officials) Bill 2016 aimed at regulating transfer and posting of Deputy Range Forest Officers, Forest Guards and Forest Watchers of Forest Department to provide equal opportunity to lower level field staff in selecting place of their choice during transfers and improve administrative efficiency and discipline in the staff.
Some legislators, including JD(S)' Shivalinge Gowda expressed their reservation on the counselling method for postings.