Gill Threatens Suit On Prasar Bharati
Doordarshan and AIR chief executive S S Gill has threatened to move court if the government does not bring the Prasar Bharati Bill in the Rajya Sabha and instead promulgates an ordinance. The Opposition walked out of the Rajya Sabha yesterday, alleging that the government was trying to "bypass" the Upper House to promulgate an ordinance after the end of the current session of Parliament.
They protested against the government's "failure" to bring the Prasar Bharati Bill before the House even four days after it was passed by the Lok Sabha.
"I will certainly move court if the government bypasses legislative procedure by not bringing the Prasar Bharati Act (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha and instead promulgates an ordinance," Gill said. He pointed out that if both houses of Parliament pass the Bill, he would not mind packing his bags.
Former additional solicitor-general A M Singhvi said, "In the event that the Bill is not passed or withdrawn and then promulgated in the form of an ordinance after parliament has risen, it cannot be an `immediate, sudden situation' as contemplated by Article 123 (which gives the President powers to promulgate an ordinance). It would only be a method of passage of the Bill through Parliament without requisite discussion and debate."
Earlier yesterday, the entire opposition, led by Congress, staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha, protesting against the government's "failure" to bring the controversial Prasar Bharati Bill before the house even four days after it was passed by the Lok Sabha.
Defending the government's position, information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj said there was no intention to bypass the Rajya Sabha and added that the Bill had gone to the President for his approval as it had financial implications. Government sources pointed out that the Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Friday, and on Monday the process for getting President's assent was set in motion, as Article 117's sub-section 3 states: "A bill which enacted and brought into operation would involve expenditure from the consolidated fund of India shall not be passed by either house of Parliament unless the President has recommended to that house the consideration of the Bill." Sources also said the government, which had plans to bring in an ordinance before August 13 after the session came to an end, now may just not do so as the Bill has been hyped up too much." The BJP-led government had decided to restore the original Prasar Bharati Act after the United Front government had amended it, making changes like removing an age bar on the chief executive officer's post and removal of a 22-MP panel to oversee activities of the Prasar Bharati board.