Officers’ body determined to expose lacunae in T-Bill

As the ongoing debate on A.P. Reorganisation Bill, 2013, reached a crucial stage in the State Legislature, organisations working for united A.P. have stepped up efforts to build an atmosphere against the Bill citing large-scale violations of the Constitution and other laid down procedures.

Brain-storming session on February 2

As part of its attempts to keep the State united, the Samaikyandhra Gazetted Officers’ Forum (SGOF), a body working for united State, is organising a brain-storming session with political parties, people’s and other organisations and elected representatives supporting united A.P. here on February 2 to chalk out an action plan to achieve the goal.

President of the forum A.V. Patel told The Hindu here on Sunday that the UPA government and the political parties in the State have been deceiving people of both sides by concealing the implications of an unconstitutional bifurcation.

He pointed out that the Centre had violated procedures at every step in the preparation of the Bill, but the parties in the State were keeping the people in dark about it.

Mr. Patel explained that the Centre had violated the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha to begin with. Rule 64 and 65 of Chapter X state that any bill should include statement of objects and reasons and the financial memorandum, but the bifurcation Bill sent to A.P. had none of them, he said.

Further, the Centre had violated Articles 341 and 342 with respect to making changes in the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The constitutional provision clearly states that the President shall consult the Governor of a State by issuing a public notification for making changes in the lists. Besides, according to Clause-9 of Article 338 and 338-A, the Centre should consult the National SC/ST Commission in any major policy matter, he noted.