Defence Services Bill aimed at preventing strikes gets Lok Sabha nod
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 3
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021, that allows the government to prohibit strikes, mass casual leave and lockouts in essential defence services establishments.
All offences punishable under the Bill will be cognisable and non-bailable. Persons commencing or participating in illegal strikes will be punished with up to one-year imprisonment or Rs 10,000 fine, or both.
Opposition doesn’t want to raise farmers’ issues
Oppn is not interested in farmers’ issues. During the question hour, several issues related to agriculture and farmers were taken up and if Oppn members wanted, they could have questioned Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar who was there to answer questions.
Persons instigating, inciting or taking actions to continue illegal strikes, or supplying money for such purposes, will be punished with up to two years of imprisonment or Rs 15,000 fine, or both. The Bill aims to ensure that the 41 ordnance factories under the Ministry of Defence, which are being corporatised, do not face any hurdle from employees or unions.
Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “The Bill snatches the democratic rights of workers in ordnance factories to strike.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the government had engaged the representatives of all unions across essential defence establishments. “The provisions of the Bill may not need to be invoked as it would be invoked under special circumstances only for a limited period,” he added.
Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code Bill passed
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2021, was on Tuesday passed by the RS by voice vote. The Bill seeks to replace the IBC Amendment Ordinance, 2021, promulgated in April which introduced pre-packs as an insolvency resolution mechanism for micro, small and medium enterprises with defaults up to Rs1 crore. tns
