285 Resolution Re. 0 Committee to 286 Avvointment of . Study Election Reforms Fact That Under 1300 of the Income-Tax Act, the Pu
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285 Resolution re. 0 Committee to 286 avvointment of . Study Election Reforms fact that under 1300 of the THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: The income-tax Act, the publishing House stands adjourned till 2.30.P.M. industry was given a rebate of 20 per cent which ends The House then adjourned this year. In our country, the con- for lunch at nineteen minutes ditions being' what they are and the past one <ol the clock. prices of paper and publishing moun- ting up as they are, I think" our tax- action laws should have a bias in The House re-assembler1 after lunch favour of books and publishing. af thirty-three minutes past two of . Therefore, I would request that on the clock. The Vice-Chairman (Shri- some suitable occasion if not now the mati Kanak Mukherjee) in the Chair. Government shouJd see that this 20 per cent rebate 13 extended for an- RESOLUTION REGARDING AP other 5 yeans. Thank You, Madam. POINTMENT OF A COMMITTEE TOSTUDY ELECTORAL THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: The REFORMS contd. question is: "That the Bill be returned."" THE VICE-CHAIRMAN (SHRI- MATI KANAK MUKHERJEE): Shri The question was put and th motion e Ghulam Rasool Matto to continue his was adopted. speech. SHRI GHULAM RASOOL MATTO REFERENCE TO THE STRIKE (Jammu and Kashmir): Madam IN THE DELHI TRANSPORT Vice-Chairman, I have spoken at CORPO- RATION length on the subject on the 3rd of May, .1985. And the point that has to be taken into consideration now is point'No. 8 in the Resolution moved by Shri Dhabe—that is. control and regulate by law the formation and functioning of political parties in- cluding auditing of their account^ and making them public. Madam, there is a mushroom growth of parties these days with no programmes. But some media of the Government gives them publicity and they appear to be . functioning. I have an instance in Jammu and Kashmir. There is one par-tv called the Old National Con- ference. There is nobody there. But somebody sends a letter to ihe Rad'o Kashmir, Srinagar, and they give out those names. So it is very necessary, as Mr. Dhabe has put in his Resolu- tion, that -we must regulate the forma- tion of the political parties. Whether they are regional parties or national parties. How that can be done is the thing to be considered at length. The mushroom growth of even regional parties or national parties is a thin" . which comes in the way of the effi- cient functioning of the political sys- 387 Resolution re. [RAJYA SABHA] o Committee to 288 appointment, of „the various aspects of the electoral tern. Madarn, this can be illustrated reforms and submit a c comprehesive by the fact tbat in America and Bri- report to the House within three tain there are only two or three par- months. Now, in reply to the debate, ties and,the parties give- out their I am sure—Mr. Minister will listen programmes and the people have not to me please—the Minister will say to choose from so many parties. I that the Government is coming out think that this suggestion of Mr. with a comprehensive Bill on electo- Dhabe that there should be control ral reforms. And I had said on the and regulation by law on the forma- 3rd of May that when Mr. Rajiv tion and functioning of political par- Gandhi took over his two main planks ties is very neeessary; were, namely, (1) that he will pass the Anti-Defection Bill, and (2) that Then, Madam, be has also mention- he will see that electoral reforms are ed about the .auditing of the accounts made. The first thing has already of ,politiem partita. This, to my mind, been done. The second this is with Ig a very important step that he regard to electoral reforms. So, we envisaged. Right now the position is would welcome if Mr. Bhardwaj that we do not know how much comes out today in reply to Mr. money is being spent by political par- Dhabe' proposal that the Government ties and how mu$h money is being is coming forward with a compre- accumulated by them for funding hensive Bill for electoral reforms. He elections of their candidates. But the will then be only fulfilling the pro- way the money fa being spent, one is nouncements that the Prime Minister simply aghast. For instance, at the had made when he took over. I have time of the last general elections a only to tell him that it may take newspaper report had stated that a some time for the Government to particular party had kept at the dis- formulate the proposals and what Mr. posal of a paricular candidate as many Dhabe's committee will do in the as 40 jeeps in one constituency alone. mean time is that it will supplement» Now, you can imagine, Madam, that the efforts of the Government or ,be a party which has 40 jeeps how much 'complementary to the exercise the money it needs for their maintenance, Government will be doing in this re- petrol and other things?.»Such a party gard. So thiB committee shall help must have recourse to a wealth of the Government to arrive at certain money and then alone it is possible decisions with regard to these elec- for.them to provide 40 jeeps. So, in toral reforms. my opinion, it is very essential and .Madarn, this proposal is a very I very necessary that We must have sanguine one and I feel that it should. auditing of the accounts of political be accepted without anv reservation. parties. Now that the latest thing 1 Coming to the Resolution as a whole, has been done only two days back, I have already stated what steps the the Bill has been passed under which Government needs to take with re- companies can donate to political par- gard to the amendment of the Con- ties, I think there should be no hesi- stitution, Part XV an<j reducing the tation on the part of the Government age and also drastically cutting down to accept this proposal of Mr. Dhabe the election expenses and also the that auditing of account of political recommendations as to how the Gov- parties is a very crucial necessity for ernment should also contribute to the ihe smooth functioning of democraov. funding of election.? by political par- ties. Tn this respect I have spoken at Madam, Mr. Dhabe haK finally re- length on the 3rd of May. I$ieed.not commenced that the Governmen' repeat all that. But I would only re- should appoint a high-powered com- quest the hon. Minister that instead mittee consisting of 15 Members of of telling us that he will come out the House under the chairmanship of« with a comprehensive Bill for the ."the Union Minister of La.w to study 289 Resolution re. [ 17 MAY 1985 ] a Committee to 290 appointment oi 1 . : " U R Study Electoral Reforms electoral reforms, he should accept the principles of the Bill of Mr. Dhabe so that this Committee will supplement and complement the work of Mr. Bhardwaj in arriving at a con- sensus with regard to the electoral reforms. Madam, with these observations, I commend the Resolution of Mr. Dhabi and strongly support it and request the hon. Minister that he should ac- cept the provisions of this Resolution without any hesitation. Thank < very much. 291 Resolution re. [ RAJYA SABHA ] a Committee to 292 appointment of Study Electoral Reforms 293 Resolution re. [ 17 MAY 1985 ] a Committee to 294 appointment oj Study Electoral Reforms 295 Resolution re. [ RAJYA SABHA ] a Committee to 296 appointment of Study Electoral Reforms "Drastically cut the election ex- penses to bring them with the reach of the poor;" "Implement various recommend- ations, reports and decisions regard to electoral reforms;" 297 Resolution re. [ 17 MAY 1985 ] a Committee to 298 appointment of Study Electoral Reforms "This House recommends that Government should appoint a high- powered Committee consisting of 15 members of this House under the Chairmanship of the Union Minister of Law to study various aspects of electoral reforms submit a comprehensive repor;, to the House within 3 months sugges- ting amendments to the Constitu- tion, various laws relating to elec- tions to Parliament and State Leg- islatures, as aloo other steps that -houd be taken to made democracy truely representative of people, curb the evil effects of money power in elections, eliminate cor- rupt practices, and to maintain the purity of elections so essential fo»' the poorer and healthy functioning of our great democracy." 299 Resolution re. [ RAJYA SABHA ] a Committee to 300 appointment of Study Electoral Reforms On Private Members' Business (Reso- ltion) ther is no limit. e THE VICE-CHAIRMAN (SHRIMATI ANAK MUKHERJEE): So long as hi relevant there is no objection. But lere are other Members also who want, 1 speak. 301 Resolution re. [ IT MAY 1985 ] a Committee to 302 appointment of Study Electoral Reforms THE VICE-CHAIRMAN (SHRI- MATI KANAK MUKHERJEE): Honourable Members, I cannot im- pose any time-limit as such on a dis- cussion on Private Members' Bills, but please have consideration for other Members also so that you can accommodate more speakers within the time allotted. Now, Mr. Babul Reddy. SHRI P. BABUL REDDY (Andhra Pradesh): Madam Vice-Chairman, I congratulate Shri Dhabe on having moved this resolution aimed at puri- fying elections in our democratic pro- cess and thereby saving democracy in this country. We take pride that our is the largest democracy.