New Delhi, June 12
The UPA government appears to be determined to re-introduce the Office-of-Profit Bill, returned by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in the “same form without any alterations” in Parliament during the coming Monsoon session.
The Bill would be brought before the Union Cabinet for its clearance soon after the dates for holding of the Monsoon session were announced, official sources said, adding that the session was likely to be held in the second half of July.
“The thinking in the government is that the Bill should be re-introduced in Parliament in the same form. We feel there is no reason for us to change anything in it,” sources said when asked if some alterations would be made in the backdrop of the President’s suggestions.
The President had on May 30 returned the Bill for reconsideration by both Houses for a “comprehensive and generic” criteria. He also wanted that the criteria should be “fair and reasonable” and applicable in a “clear and transparent” manner across all states and Union Territories.
Another point on which the President had voiced reservation in his communication to both Houses was about the propriety of applying the law with retrospective effect. He wanted this to be considered afresh.
The Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill, 2006, passed by both Houses in the second half of the Budget session last month, had exempted 56 posts, including that of the Chairperson of National Advisory Council, an office earlier held by Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
