Dharna by Cong. member over private bill

The Legislative Council on Friday witnessed a dharna by a ruling party member over the issue of the House not taking up a private bill moved by him.

Congress member Raghu Achar had sought to move a private members’ bill on making it mandatory for children of public servants and elected representatives to study in government schools.

As the House began its proceedings he raised the issue and rushed to the well of the House and began a dharna protesting against not being allowed table a private bill. He said the bill was of significance especially in strengthening of government schools and colleges and despite assurance being given, the bill was not listed on the agenda.

With the member continuing the dharna, Chairman of the Legislative Council D.H. Shankarmurthy clarified that the bill could not be listed because of technical reasons. He said the House could not take up a private bill when another private bill was still pending before it.

“Another reason is that when a private member seeks to table a private bill, the issue is referred to the Parliamentary Affairs Committee, which will examine it and seek the opinion of the State government. Sometimes the government allows the bill to be tabled and sometimes the government itself will come up with a bill on the issue. In this case the bill has been referred to the committee as per the procedure. And we are yet to receive a reply on the issue. Such being the case the House cannot take it up now”, Mr. Shankarmurthy clarified.

Meanwhile BJP members stood up in support of Mr. Raghu Achar and demanded the tabling of the bill. Much to the embarrassment of ruling party he continued his dharna even as senior Congress member V.S. Ugrappa and House leader M.R. Seetharam requested him to withdraw his protest.

He withdrew his dharna after Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Tanveer Sait said the Department was considering the proposal as various committees too had submitted reports for strengthening of government schools and colleges. He told the Council that the government would take further steps after verifying the reports and the private bill.