Amid uproar from the Opposition Congress, Rajasthan Home Minister Gulabchand Kataria on Monday tabled in the Assembly a Bill to replace the ordinance to protect serving and former judges, magistrates and public servants from being investigated for on-duty action without government sanction.
The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill , 2017, seeks to replace the September 7 ordinance, which drew widespread criticism. The ordinance also barred the media from reporting on accusations of such wrongdoings till the government sanctions a probe.
Congress members staged a walkout. BJP MLA Ghanshayam Tiwari, who had opposed the ordinance, walked out twice after he was not allowed by Speaker Kailash Meghwal to raise a point of order.
After the Bill was tabled, Independent MLA Manik Chand Surana opposed it through a point of order, arguing that there was no prior sanction of the President to the Bill which was circulated among the members on Sunday night.
Mr. Surana called the Bill a kaala kanoon (a black law), accused the government of trying to impose an undeclared emergency through it and asserted that the Opposition would not allow a debate without the President’s sanction. Responding to Mr. Surana, the Home Minister said the merits and demerits of the Bill would be discussed during the debate and it would become a law only after it was passed by the House.
