WEDNESDAY, The 8th DECEMBER, 1999
(The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament House at 11.00 a.m.)
1. Starred Questions
The following Starred Questions were orally answered.
Starred Question No 142 regarding Ban on Export of Indian Garments by EEC.
Starred Question No 143 regarding Offence of untouchability against SCs.
Starred Question No 144 regarding Ranganath Mishra Commission on 1984 riots.
Answers to remaining questions (141, 145 to 160) were laid on the Table.
2. Unstarred Questions
Answers to Unstarred Question Nos.788 to 891 were laid on the Table.
12 Noon
3. Papers Laid on the Table
8th DECEMBER, 1999
The following papers were laid on the Table: —
Shri George Fernandes (Minister of Defence) liad on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers under sub-section (1) of section 619 of the Companies Act, 1956:—
(i) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Bharat Electronics Limited, Bangalore, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon.
(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.
(ii) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon.
(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report. (iii) (a) Thirty-fifth Annual Report and Accounts of the Bharat Earth Movers Limited, Bangalore, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon..
(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.
(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Calcutta, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon.
(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.
(v) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Goa Shipyard Limited, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon.
(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.
II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (i) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production and Supplies) and Bharat Electronics Limited for the year 1999-2000. (ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production and Supplies) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited for the year 1999-2000. (iii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production and Supplies) and Mazagon Dock Limited for the year 1999-2000. (iv) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production and Supplies) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the year 1999-2000. Ms. Jayawanti Metha (Minister of State in the Ministry of Power) on behalf of Shri R. Kumaramanglam laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Power under section 56 of the Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, 1998:— (i) G.S.R. 734 (E) dated 29.10.1999 publishing the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Salary, Allowances and other Conditions of Service of Chairperson and members) Rules, 1999. (ii) No.8/1/99-CERC dated 26.4.1999 publishing the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Conduct of Business) Regulations 1999 alongwith corrigendum dated 31.5.99. (iii)No. 8/1(1)/99/CERC dated 30.8.1999 publishing the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order 1999. Shri Kashiram Rana (Minister of Textiles) laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Textiles, S.O. 526 dated 1.7.99 publishing the order specifying mandatory packaging of certain 8th DECEMBER, 1999 commodities in Jute Packaging Materials under sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987.
II. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Textiles, S.O. 408 dated 2.6.99 publishing the amendment in the Handlooms Reservation Order S.O. 557(E) dated 26.7.96 under sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the Handlooms (Reservation of Article for Production) Act, 1985.
III. (1) A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub- section (1) of section 619 of the Companies Act, 1956:—
(a) Seventy-eighth Annual Report and Accounts of the British India Corporation Limited, Kanpur, for the year 1997-98,
together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Corporation. (ii) (a) Thirtieth Annual Report and Accounts of the National Textile Corporation Limited, New Delhi, for the year 1997-98, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon..
(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Corporation.
© Statements (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above.
IV. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:—
(a) Thirty-fourth Annual Report and Accounts of the Wool and Woollens Export Promotion Council, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Council. Shri O. Rajagopal ( Minister of State in the Ministry of Law, Justice and Company affairs and parliamentary Affairs) on behalf of Shri Dilip Ray laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 1998 (No.6 of 1999) – Union Government (Commercial) – Steel Authority of India Limited under clause (1) of article 151 of Constitution .
Ms. Jayawanti Metha ( Minister of State in the Ministry of Power) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub- section (1) of section 619 of the Companies Act, 1956:—
(a) Twenty-third Annual Report and Accounts of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited, Shillong, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Corporation.
(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Power Finance Corporation Limited, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon.
(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Corporation.
II. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Power) and Power Finance Corporation Limited for the year 1999-2000.
Shri Gingee N. Ramachandran (Minister of State in the Ministry of Textiles) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers under sub-section (1) of section 619 of the Companies Act, 1956:—
(a) Twenty-ninth Annual Report and Accounts of the Cotton Corporation of India Limited, Mumbai, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon. 8th DECEMBER, 1999 (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Corporation. II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers :—
(i) (a) Forty-ninth Annual Report and Accounts of the Silk and Art Silk Mills Research Association, Mumbai, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.
(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Association.
(ii) (a) Nineteenth Annual Report and Accounts of the Man-Made Textile Research, Association, Surat, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.
(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Association.
(iii)(a) Twelfth Annual Report and Accounts of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, for the year 1997-98, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b). Review by Government on the working of the above Institute. © Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.
Shri I.D. Swami (Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs) laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the 29th Annual Assessment Report on the Programme and its Implementation for accelerating the spread and development of Hindi and its Progressive use for the various official purposes of the Union, for the year 1997-98.
12-08 p.m.
4. Report of the Committee on Petitions
Shri Dipankar Mukherjee presented the Hundred and Fourteenth Report (in English and Hindi) of the Committee on Petitions on the petition signed by Prof. Manubhai D. Shah, Managing Trustee, Consumer Education and Research Centre, Ahmedabad and three others, regarding the need to redefine the term ‘railway accident’ in the Indian Railways Act, 1989 and to create machinery for payment of immediate and adequate financial compensation for injury or deaths of persons or other losses on railway premises.
12-09 p.m.
5. Leave of Absence
Shri Suryabhan Patil Vahadane (Maharashtra) was granted leave of absence from 3rd December, 1999 to 23rd December, 1999 and Shri Korambayil Ahammed Haji (Kerala) was granted leave of absence from 6th December, 1999 to 23rd December, 1999 from the sittings of the House during the current Session of the Rajya Sabha.
12-10 p.m.
6. Motion for Election to the Committee on Official Language — Adopted
A motion for election of two members to the Committee on Official Language was moved and adopted.
7. Motion for Election to the Central Advisory Committee for the National Cadet Corps — Adopted A motion for election of one member to the Central Advisory Committee for the National Cadet Corps was moved and adopted.
12-19 p.m.
8. Calling Attention to matter of Urgent Public Importance
Shri Dipankar Mukherjee called the attention of the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas to the disinvestment of Government shares in the Gas Authority of India Limited at a price lower than the best possible price.
Shri Ram Naik (Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas) made a statement.
Thereafter, Members sought clarifications on the statement.
2-20 p.m. 8th DECEMBER, 1999
9. Supplementary Demands for Grants (General), 1999-2000
Shri Yashwant Sinha, Minister of Finance laid on the Table a statement (in English and Hindi) showing the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General), 1999- 2000.
. (The House adjourned for lunch at 2-21 p.m. and reassembled at 3-16 p.m)
10. Government Bill — Motion for Reference of the Bill to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha — Adopted
The Prevention of Money-Laundering Bill, 1999 as passed by Lok Sabha
3-25 p.m.
The following Members took part in the discussion
Shri Yashwant Sinha (Minister of Finance) moved:
"That the Prevention of Money-Laundering Bill, 1999 be referred to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha consisting of the following Members:—
Shri T.N. Chaturvedi
Shri Vedprakash P. Goyal
Shri Adhik Shirodkar
Shri S. Vidhuthalai Virumbi
Shri N.K.P. Salve
Shri Kapil Sibal
Shri S. Ramachandran Pillai
Shri Gurudas Das Gupta
Shri Amar Singh
Shri Balwant Singh Ramoowalia
With instructions to report to the Rajya Sabha by the first day of the next Session."
3-30 p.m. The motion was adopted.
3-33 p.m.
11. Government Bill — Passed
The Foreign Exchange Management Bill, 1999 as passed by Lok Sabha
3-33 p.m.
Further discussion on the motion for consideration of the Bill moved by Shri Yashwant Sinha, Minister of Finance on the 7th December, 1999 and the amendment moved thereto, continued.
The following Members took part in the discussion :—
3-34 p.m. 1. Shri N.K.P. Salve
(continued from 7-12-1999)
3-44 p.m. 2. Shri T.N. Chaturvedi
4-05 p.m. 3. Shri S. Ramachandran Pillai
4-32 p.m. 4. Shri Santosh Bagrodia
4-53 p.m. 5. Shri Jalaludin Ansari **
4-59 p.m. 6. Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav**
5-03 p.m. 7. Shri C.P. Thirunavukkarasu
______** spoken in Hindi
8th DECEMBER, 1999
5-10 p.m. 8. Shri Vayalar Ravi
5-19 p.m. 9. Shri Adhik Shirodkar
5-23 p.m. 10. Shri Vijay J. Darda**
5-26 p.m.
Shri Yashwant Sinha replied to the debate. The amendment moved by Shri S. Ramachandran Pillai for reference of the Bill to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha was negatived.
5-52 p.m.
The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted.
Thereafter,clause by clause consideration of the Bill was taken up.
Clauses 2 to 49 were adopted.
Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted.
The motion moved by Shri Yashwant Sinha that the Bill be passed was adopted and the Bill was passed.
12. Message from the Lok Sabha
The Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 1999.
Secretary-General reported to the House a message received from the Lok Sabha, signed by the Secretary-General of the 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 Mines and Minerals (Regulatin and Development) Amendment Bill, 1999, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 8th December, 1999.” **Spoken in Hindi
13. Bill laid on the Table.
Secretary-General laid on the Table a copy of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 1999, as passed by Lok Sabha.
14. Statement by Minister
Shri Murasoli Maran, Minister of Commerce and Industry made a statement regarding the 3rd Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation held at Seattle, U.S.A.
(The House adjourned at 6.02 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Thursday, the 9th December, 1999).
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