The Rajya Sabha saw high drama and some embarrassment for the government on Monday as a Constitution amendment bill on backward classes was changed after some amendments moved by the Opposition were passed by the House.
The Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2017, providing for the setting up of a National Commission for Backward Classes, was passed after dropping Clause 3, to which four amendments was approved by the House earlier. The dropped clause pertains to the insertion of a new article 338B about the constitution and powers of the National Commission for Backward Classes. The amended bill will now have to be returned to the Lok Sabha for its fresh approval.
In the Upper House, it had been referred to a Select Committee as the Opposition wanted more scrutiny. The Rajya Sabha today took up the Constituent amendment bill on Monday, days after the Select Committee submitted its report. Its passage requires two-thirds majority of those present and voting in the 245-member House.
While the clauses of the bill were being put to vote, Congress members Digvijaya Singh, B.K. Hariprasad and Hussain Dalvai moved a number of amendments.
Minister for Social Justice Thawar Chand Gehlot said the suggestions proposed through the amendments would be kept in mind while framing the rules.
However, Mr. Singh pressed for division of votes, saying “they [the government] are jumla politics people” and could not be trusted.
Subsequently, the amendments were passed by 74 to 52 votes, causing an embarrassment for the ruling side which has a strength of 89, if JD(U)’s 10 members are also counted with them.
This led to a deadlock as the clause which was amended was required to be passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting. This meant that the both the ruling side and the Opposition had to vote together.
No going back: Kurien
A war of words ensued over this as the government was not ready to accept the amendments moved by the Congress members. However, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien ruled that since the amendment had already been passed, there was no going back.
At the same time, he said since the proceedings to pass the bill had been initiated, it had to be completed anyway.
The bill was finally put to vote, dropping Clause 3 and it was passed by 124 to 0 votes, ending a drama of about 90 minutes.
A related bill — The National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Bill, 2017 — was not taken up.
