RAJYA SABHA WEDNESDAY, THE 17TH MAY, 2006 (The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament House at 11-00 a.m.) 11-00 a.m. 1. Starred Questions The following Starred Questions were orally answered:- Starred Question No.464 regarding DRDO global tie-ups in aerospace. Starred Question No.465 regarding Withdrawal of army from valley. Starred Question No.466 regarding Foreign investment in single branded retailing. Answers to remaining Starred Question Nos. 461 to 463 and 467 to 480 were laid on the Table. 2. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos. 3331 to 3485 were laid on the Table. 12-00 Noon.@ 3. Papers Laid on the Table Shri Pranab Mukherjee (Minister of Defence) laid on the Table:— I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Defence Notification. S.R.O. 121 dated the 6th March, 2006, notifying the original Notification S.R.O. 11 (E) dated the 15th February, 1992, regarding appointment of women as officers in the Indian Army, under section 193 (A) of the Army Act, 1950. II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (i) (a) Annual Accounts of the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports, Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, for the year 2004-2005, and the Audit Report thereon. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Institute. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. ______@ From 11-52 a.m. to 12-00 Noon some points were raised. RAJYA SABHA (ii) (a) Annual Accounts of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, West Bengal, for the year 2004-2005, and the Audit Report thereon. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Institute. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. (iii) (a) Annual Accounts of the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, Uttranchal, for the year 2004-2005, and the Audit Report thereon. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Institute. (c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. (iv) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production) and the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), for the year 2006-2007. (v) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production) and the Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), for the year 2006-2007. (vi) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production) and the Mazagaon Dock Limited (MDL), for the year 2006-2007. (vii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Defence) and the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), for the year 2006-2007. (viii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Defence) and the Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), for the year 2006- 2007. (ix) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production) and the Bharat Dynamics Limited, for the year 2006-2007. 17TH MAY, 2006 Shri Shriprakash Jaiswal (Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs) on behalf of Shri Vishwanath Patil laid on the Table:- I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (4) of section 3 of the Commission of Enquiry Act, 1952:— (a) Report (Volumes I, II-A and II-B) of the Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry into the alleged disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. (b) Action Taken Memorandum on the report of the Justice Mukherjee Commission of inquiry regarding the alleged disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. II. Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (I) above. Shri Jairam Ramesh (Minister of State in the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry) on behalf of Shri Kamal Nath laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (i) (a) Annual Report of the office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, Mumbai, for the year 2004-2005, under section 155 of the Patents Act, 1970 read with section 149 of the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1999. (b) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. (ii) (a) Foreign Trade Policy-2004-2009 (updated as on 7th April, 2006); (b) Handbook of Procedures (Volume I)-2004-2009 (updated as on 7th April, 2006); (c) Annual Supplement to Foreign Trade Policy-2004-2009 (Announced on 7th April, 2006). Shri Chandra Sekhar Sahu (Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour & Employment) on behalf of Shri K. Chandra Sekhar Rao laid on the Table:- I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Notification S.O. 403 (E), dated the 27th March, 2006, regarding reconstitution of Central Apprenticeship Council under the Central Apprenticeship Council Rules 1962, under sub-section (3) of section 37 of the Apprentices Act, 1961. RAJYA SABHA II. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Notification G.S.R. 658 (E) dated the 10th November, 2005, publishing the Employees Provident Funds (Amendment) Scheme, 2005, under sub-section (2) of section 7 of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, together with delay statement. Shri Shriprakash Jaiswal (Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs) on behalf of Shri Manikrao Gavit laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Home Affairs Notification G.S.R. 193 (E), dated the 31st March, 2006, publishing the Governors (Allowances and Privileges) Amendment Rules, 2006, under sub- section (3) of the section 13 of the Governors (Emoluments, Allowances and Privileges) Act, 1982. Shri Shriprakash Jaiswal (Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs) laid on the Table:- I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Home Affairs Notification G.S.R. 137 (E), dated the 6th March, 2006, publishing the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, General Duty Cadre (Group 'B' and 'C' posts) Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 2006, under sub- section (3) of section 156 of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992. II. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Home Affairs Notification G.S.R. 73 (E), dated the 21st February, 2006, publishing the Central Industrial Security Force, Assistant Commandant (Junior Administrative Officer) Recruitment Amendment Rules, 2006, under sub- section (3) of section 22 of the Central Industrial Security Force Act, 1968. III. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Home Affairs Notification G.S.R. 409 (E) dated the 10th December, 2005, publishing the Central Reserve Police Force Combatised Assistant Sub Inspector (Steno) and Head Constable (Ministerial) Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 2005, under sub- section (3) of section18 of the Central Reserve Police Force Act, 1949. Shri Jairam Ramesh (Minister of State in the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry) on behalf of Shri Ashwani Kumar laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion) under sub-section (2) of section 28 of the Indian Boilers Act, 1923: — 17TH MAY, 2006 (1) G.S.R. 423 (E) dated the 24th December 2005, publishing the Indian Boiler (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2005. (2) G.S.R. 27 (E) dated the 4th February, 2006, publishing the Indian Boiler (Amendment) Regulations, 2006. Shri Jairam Ramesh (Minister of State in the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry) laid on the Table:- I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Department of Commerce) Notification S.O. 1776 (E), dated the 19th December, 2005, appointing the 1st day of January, 2006 as the date on which sections 2, 5 and 6 of the Tea (Amendment) Act, 1980 shall come into force, under section nil. II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (i) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce) and the MMTC Limited, for the year 2006-2007. (ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce) and the PEC Limited, for the year 2006-2007. (iii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce) and the State Trading Corporation of India Limited, for the year 2006-2007.

12-04 p.m.# 4. Reports of the Committee on Petitions Shri P.G. Narayanan presented the following Reports (in English and Hindi) of the Committee of Petitions:— (i) Hundred and Twenty-eighth Report on the petition signed by Shri Gopal Krishna, a resident of Delhi, praying for extension of CGHS facilities to the retired/retiring employees of the Employees' Provident Fund Organization; and ______# From 12-02 p.m. to 12-04 p.m. some points were raised. RAJYA SABHA (ii) Hundred and Twenty-ninth Report on the petition signed by Ms. K. Hemalata, General Secretary and Ms. A. R. Sindhu, Treasurer, All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, New Delhi and countersigned by Shri Chittabrata Majumdar, Member, Rajya Sabha inter-alia praying for institutionalisation of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme by converting it into a regular Department under the Ministry of Human Resource Development and regularization of services of Anganwadi Workers/ Helpers as employees of that Department. 5. Reports of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour Shri K. Chandran Pillai laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Reports of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour:— (i) Thirteenth Report of the Committee on “Demands for Grants (2006-2007)” of the Ministry of Labour and Employment; and (ii) Fourteenth Report of the Committee on “Demands for Grants (2006-2007)” of the Ministry of Textiles. 12-05 p.m. 6. Report of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Shri T.S. Bajwa laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Eleventh Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (2005-2006) on “The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2005” pertaining to the Department of Consumer Affairs (Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution). 12-06 p.m. 7. Leave of Absence Shri R.K. Dhawan (Bihar) was granted leave of absence from the sittings of the House from the 10th May, 2006 till the end of the current session of the Rajya Sabha. 17TH MAY, 2006 12-07 p.m. 8. Motion for Election to the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) A motion for election of one member to the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) was moved and adopted. 12-08 p.m. 9. Motion for Election to the Coffee Board A motion for election of one member to the Coffee Board was moved and adopted. 12-09 p.m. 10. Motion for Election to the Central Advisory Committee Constituted under the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 A motion for election of one member to the Central Advisory Committee Constituted under the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 was moved and adopted. 12-10 p.m. 11. Motion for Election to the Committee on Official Language A motion for election of two members to the Committee on Official Language was moved and adopted. 12-11 p.m. 12. Motion for Election to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi A motion for election of one member to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi was moved and adopted. 12-12 p.m. 13. Motion for Election to the Central Silk Board A motion for election of one member to the Central Silk Board was moved and adopted. RAJYA SABHA 12-14 p.m.@ (The House adjourned at 12-14 p.m. and re-assembled at 1-00 p.m.) 1-00 p.m. 14. Government Bill — Passed The Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill, 2006, as passed by Lok Sabha. Shri Hans Raj Bhardwaj (Minister of Law and Justice) moved:- “That the Bill further to amend the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1969, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration.” An Amendment for reference of the Bill to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha was moved by Shri Mule Venkata Mysura Reddy- "That the Bill further to amend the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959, be referred to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha consisting of the following members (names of members to be given at the time of making the motion) with instructions to report by the first day of the next session of the Rajya Sabha. The following Members took part in the discussion:— 1-04 p.m. 1. Shri Arun Jaitley 1-38 p.m. 2. Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi 2-12 p.m. 3. Shri Sitaram Yechury 2-28 p.m. 4. Shri Amar Singh** 2-47 p.m. 5. Shri N. Jothi 2-56 p.m. 6. Shri Mangani Lal Mandal** 3-05 p.m. 7. Shri Vasant Chavan** 3-17 p.m. 8. Shri C. Ramachandraiah 3-33 p.m. 9. Shri Digvijay Singh** 3-51 p.m. 10. Shri Ram Jethmalani 4-13 p.m. 11. Shri Dinesh Trivedi 4-33 p.m. 12. Shri Sharad Anantrao Joshi 4-41 p.m. 13. Shri Abani Roy ______@ From 12-13 p.m. to 12-14 p.m. some points were raised. ** Spoke in Hindi. 17TH MAY, 2006 4-47 p.m. 14. Shri Syed Azeez Pasha** 4-54 p.m. Shri Hans Raj Bhardwaj replied to the debate. 5-25 p.m.# The amendment moved by Shri Mule Venkata Mysura Reddy for reference of the Bill to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha was negatived. 5-26 p.m. The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. Clauses 2 to 4 were adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted. 5-27 p.m. On the motion moved by Shri Hans Raj Bhardwaj that the Bill be passed, the House divided. $Ayes – 109 $Noes – 3 5-36 p.m. The motion was adopted and the Bill was passed. 5-37 p.m. 15. Message from Lok Sabha The Reserve Bank of India (Amendment) Bill, 2006 Secretary-General reported to the House the following Message received from Lok Sabha, signed by the Secretary-General of Lok Sabha:- “In accordance with the provisions of rule 96 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, I am directed to enclose the Reserve Bank of India (Amendment) Bill, 2006, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 17th May, 2006. ______** Spoke in Hindi. # From 5-22 p.m. to 5-25 p.m. some points were raised. $ Subject to correction. RAJYA SABHA 16. Bill Laid on the Table Secretary-General laid on the Table a copy of the Reserve Bank of India (Amendment) Bill, 2006, as passed by Lok Sabha. 5-38 p.m. 17. Government Bill — Returned The Cess Laws (Repealing and Amending) Bill, 2006, as passed by Lok Sabha. Shri Jairam Ramesh (Minister of State in the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry) moved:- “That the Bill to repeal certain enactments and to amend certain other enactments relating to levy of cess on certain items, as passed by Lok Sabha, be taken into consideration.” 5-39 p.m. The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. Clauses 2 to 5, the First Schedule and the Second Schedule were adopted. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted. 5-40 p.m. The motion moved by Shri Jairam Ramesh that the Bill be returned was adopted and the Bill was returned. 5-41 p.m. 18. Matters raised with permission 5-41 p.m. (1) Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi** raised a matter regarding incident of grenade attack by terrorists in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir today, the 17th May, 2006. Shri Shivraj Vishwanath Patil,** Minister of Home Affairs, responded. ______** Spoke in Hindi.

17TH MAY, 2006 @(2) Shri C. Ramachandraiah raised a matter regarding killing of persons of Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh in a fire incident in Kuwait. Shri Suresh Pachouri,** Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, responded. 5-56 p.m. 19. Statement by Minister Shri Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Minister of Rural Development, laid on the Table a statement (in English and Hind) on the status of implementation of recommendations contained in the Second and Tenth reports of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development.

5-58 p.m.% 20. Special Mentions 5-58 p.m. 1. Shri Vijay J. Darda raised a matter regarding poor quality of life in Indian cities. 6-01 p.m. 2. Shri Mangani Lal Mandal** raised a matter regarding need to redress financial and other problems of tea industry in Bihar. 6-03 p.m. 3. Shri Shatrughan Sinha** raised a matter regarding delay in justice to the victims of Mumbai bomb blast. 6-05 p.m. 4. Shri Amar Singh** raised a matter regarding deputation of doctors in foreign countries. ______@ At 5-57 p.m. ** Spoke in Hindi. % From 5-57 p.m. to 5-58 p.m. see item no.18 (2) RAJYA SABHA 6-07 p.m. 5. Shri Kalraj Mishra** raised a matter regarding environmental pollution due to incoming ship from Malaysia and need to formulate a policy on ship breaking. 6-09 p.m. 6. Dr. Gyan Prakash Pilania raised a matter regarding grave scenario of custodial deaths and torture by the police. 6-11 p.m. 7. Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi** raised a matter regarding need for implementation of the Rangarajan Committee Report on pricing of petroleum products in the country. 6-13 p.m. 8. Shri Jai Parkash Aggarwal** raised a matter regarding need to protect the ancient temples, ghats and houses on the bank of river Yamuna in Delhi in the ongoing demolition drive. 6-15 p.m. 9. Kumari Nirmala Deshpande raised a matter regarding need to stop the imposition of BT Cotton seeds and allow the farmers to have the seeds of their own choice. 6-17 p.m. 10. Ms. Mabel Rebello raised a matter regarding malnutrition in children in the country. 6-19 p.m. 11. Shri Shantaram Laxman Naik raised a matter regarding need for identification of Supreme Court Judgments for incorporation in respective statutes. 6-22 p.m. 12. Shri Ramdas Agarwal raised a matter regarding acquisition of residential land in and around Jaipur Sanganer Airport. ______** Spoke in Hindi. 17TH MAY, 2006 6-24 p.m. 13. Shrimati N.P. Durga raised a matter regarding need for financial assistance for continuation of mid-day meal scheme in Andhra Pradesh. 6-26 p.m. 14. Shri Janardhana Poojary raised a matter regarding deaths due to heat waves in the country. 6-28 p.m. 15. Shri Banwari Lal Kanchhal** raised a matter regarding misuse of on-line trading in the country. 6-29 p.m. 16. Shri Abu Asim Azmi** raised a matter regarding bomb blasts in Nanded and Ghatkopar in Maharashtra. 6-31 p.m. 17. Shri Prasanta Chatterjee raised a matter regarding withdrawal of bonus on Monthly Income Scheme by the Department of Post. 6-33 p.m. 18. Shri Rudra Narayan Pany** raised a matter regarding demand for development of National Highways in Orissa. 6-35 p.m. 19. Shri T.S. Bajwa raised a matter regarding demand for opening of road from Suchetgarh to Sialkot. 6-37 p.m. 20. Shri C. Ramachandraiah raised a matter regarding action plan on human resource development in the country. 6-39 p.m. 21. Shri Surendra Lath** raised a matter regarding demand to extend the revised long term plan for KBK districts of Orissa for ten years. ______** Spoke in Hindi. RAJYA SABHA 6-41 p.m. 22. Shri Silvius Condpan raised a matter regarding malaria epidemic in Assam and other parts of the North Eastern region of the country. 6-43 p.m. 23. Shri Nandi Yellaiah** raised a matter regarding constitutional amendment to empower States to make sub-groups of SCs. 6-46 p.m. 24. Shri Shreegopal Vyas** raised a matter regarding naxalite violence in Chattisgarh. 6-48 p.m. 25. Shri Ajay Maroo** raised a matter regarding lack of discipline in the security force and police personnel. 6-50 p.m. 26. Shri Syed Azeez Pasha raised a matter regarding suicide by farmers in the country.

(The House adjourned at 6-53 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Thursday, the 18th May, 2006) ______** Spoke in Hindi.