No curbs on bringing Jan Lokpal as private member’s Bill: Khurshid

Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid on Friday made it clear that there was no restriction on any member wanting to bring Jan Lokpal Bill as a private member’s bill in Parliament.

“Private members have no restriction at all. Private members can move any Bill. When private members move a Bill, then it is taken up as per rules and regulations of the House,” Mr. Khurshid told reporters in New Delhi.

The Law Minister was speaking in context of the proposed introduction of the Jan Lokpal Bill, backed by Anna Hazare and his team, in Parliament as a private member’s Bill.

The BJP Lok Sabha MP from Pilibhit, Varun Gandhi, has proposed to introduce the Jan Lokpal Bill as private member’s Bill.

Mr. Varun Gandhi told PTI that he intended to move the Bill next week.

Mr. Khurshid said the private member’s Bill should have adequate support of members for it to be taken up and passed in Parliament.

“The Bill is considered in the House after adequate members support it. The House then passes the Bill or in normal course the minister gives an assurance by which the Bill gets withdrawn.

“The assurance is that their concerns will be factored into any further legislation that the government will bring. That’s the standard procedure. If somebody wants to bring a private member’s bill, then there’s nobody stopping them. But they would have to get the necessary support of the members,” said the Law Minister.

Asked if a member bringing in such a Bill wishes to have voting on it, Mr. Khurshid said, “If someone wants a voting, then they can have it.”