Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Monday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to move the “Prevention of Communal (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2013 in the coming Parliament session as it continues to suffer from “lacunae” and encroached upon the powers of States.
“With barely five months to go for the term of the present Lok Sabha and for general elections to be announced, any hasty attempt to bring in such legislation without wide consultation amongst all political parties and stakeholders would be a completely undemocratic move”, she said in a letter to the PM.
Ms. Jayalalithaa, who has been opposing the Bill, claimed that modifications carried out by the Centre on the Bill in the wake of objections from States are “cosmetic” in nature and major concerns remained un-addressed.
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“My main objections are that the proposed Bill will not meet the desired objective of curbing vociferous religiosity or communal violence. The Bill as drafted suffers from too many lacunae and will not meet the intended objective of preventing communal violence,” she said.
Ms. Jayalalithaa came down on “unfettered” powers sought to be vested with the National Human Rights Commission and State Human Rights Commissions like issuing of directives to State governments.
“To override or supersede the constitutional authority of elected State governments and give superior powers to Commissions consisting of nominated members who are mere appointees of Governments will be a travesty of justice and the principles of democracy”, she said.
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The maintenance of law and order in the country is the fundamental responsibility of State governments, she said, adding that requires functional co-operation and understanding between the central and State governments.