FRIDAY, THE 7TH SEPTEMBER, 2007 (The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament House at 11-00 a.m.) *11-02 a.m. (The House adjourned at 11-02 a.m. and re-assembled at 12-00 Noon.) 1. Starred Questions Answers to Starred Question Nos. 341 to 360 were laid on the Table. 2. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos. 2604 to 2758 were laid on the Table. 12-00 Noon 3. Papers Laid on the Table Shri Mahavir Prasad (Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) laid on the Table:— I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956: —

( (a) Eighteenth Annual Report and Accounts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO), Port Blair, for the year 2005-2006, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of thereon.

(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report. II. Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. Shri Suresh Pachouri (Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs) on behalf of Shri B.K. Handique laid on the Table:- I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:— ______* From 11-00 a.m. to 11-02 a.m. some points were raised. 7TH SEPTEMBER, 2007 (i) (a) Twenty-eighth Annual Report and Accounts of the Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation Limited (HFCL), New , for the year 2005-2006, 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) Fourth Annual Report and Accounts of the Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL), Namrup, Assam, for the year 2005-2006, 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.

(iii) (a) Fifty-second Annual Report and Accounts of the Hindustan Antibiotics Limited (HAL), Pune, for the year 2005-2006, 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 Company. II. Statements (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. Shri Kantilal Bhuria (Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution) laid on the Table:- I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956 — (i) (a) Thirty-sixth Annual Report and Accounts of the Madhya Pradesh State Agro Industries Development Corporation Limited, Bhopal, for the year 2004-2005, 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. RAJYA SABHA (ii)(a) Fortieth Annual Report and Accounts of the Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Limited, Chandigarh, for the year 2005-2006, 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. Statements (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above. Shri Naranbhai Rathwa (Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways) laid on the Table:- I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) Notification No. G.S.R 540 (E) dated the 9th August, 2007, publishing the Railway Passengers (Manner of Investigation of Untoward Incidents) Amendment Rules, 2007 under section 129 of the Railways Act, 1989. II. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Report on the Progress made in the intake of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes against vacancies reserved for them in recruitment and promotion categories on the Railways for the year ending 31st March, 2006. 12-01 p.m. 4. Messages from (I) The Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2007. (II) The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Bill, 2007. Secretary-General reported to the House the following messages receivd from the Lok Sabha, signed by the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha:- (I) "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 Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2007, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 6th September, 2007."

7TH SEPTEMBER, 2007 (II) "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 Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production Supply and Distribution) Amendment Bill, 2007, as passed by Lok Sabha at its sitting held on the 6th September, 2007." 5. Bills Laid on the Table Secretary-General laid on the Table the following Bills, as passed by Lok Sabha:— (I) The Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2007. (II) The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Bill, 2007. 6. Report on Indian Parliamentary Participation at International Conference Secretary-General laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Report on the Participation of Indian Parliamentary Delegation at the 116th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held at Nusa Dua, Bali (Indonesia) from 29th April to 4th May, 2007. 12-02 p.m. 7. Report of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare Shri Amar Singh presented the Twenty-fourth Report (in English and Hindi) of Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare on the Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry Bill, 2007. 8. Evidence Tendered Before the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare Shri Amar Singh laid on the Table a copy of the Evidence tenderedbefore the Committee on the Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry Bill, 2007. RAJYA SABHA 12-03 p.m. 9. Report of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice Dr. E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan presented the Twenty-third Report (in English and Hindi) of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice on the Government’s Policy of Appointment on Compassionate Ground. 12-04 p.m. 10. Reports of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways Shri Tarini Kanta Roy laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Reports of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways:—

(i) Twenty-eighth Report on action taken by the Government on the recommendations/observations contained in the Twenty-fourth Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on “Land Management”;

(ii) Twenty-ninth Report on action taken by the Government on the recommendations/observations contained in the Seventeenth Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on “Railway Production Units – Workshops and Maintenance of Rolling Stock”;

(iii) Thirtieth Report on action taken by the Government on the recommendations/observations contained in the Sixteenth Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on “Expansion of Railway Network – New Lines, Gauge Conversion, Doubling and Electrification”; and

(iv) Thirty-first Report on action taken by the Government on the recommendations/observations contained in the Twenty-first Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on “Terminal Facilities in Metropolitan Cities”. 7TH SEPTEMBER, 2007 12-05 p.m. 11. Report of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy Shri Jesudasu Seelam laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Twenty-first Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy on “Damodar Valley Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2007” pertaining to the Ministry of Power. 12-06 p.m. 12. Report of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology Shri Praveen Rashtrapal laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Fiftieth Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology (2007-2008) on “Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2006”. 12-07 p.m. 13. Statement regarding Government Business 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, made a statement regarding Government Business in the Rajya Sabha during the week commencing Monday, the 10th September, 2007. 12-08 p.m. 14. Government Bill — Introduced The Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology Bill, 2007 Shri Murli Deora (Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas) moved for leave to introduce a Bill to declare the institution known as the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology to be an institution of national importance and to provide for its incorporation and for matters connected therewith. Shri Murli Deora introduced the Bill. RAJYA SABHA 12-09 p.m. 15. Government Bill — Passed The Carriage by Road Bill, 2005. Shri T.R. Baalu (Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways) moved:- "That the Bill further to provide for the regulation of common carriers limiting their liability and declaration of value of goods delivered to them to determine their liability for loss of, or damage to, such goods occasioned by the negligence or criminal acts of themselves, their servants or agents and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, be taken into consideration." 12-10 p.m. The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. Clause 2, as amended, was adopted. Clause 3, as amended, was adopted. Clause 4, as amended, was adopted. Clause 5, as amended, was adopted. Clause 6, as amended, was adopted. Clause 7 was adopted. Clause 8, as amended, was adopted. Clause 9, as amended, was adopted. Clause 10, as amended, was adopted. Clause 11, as amended, was adopted. Clause 12, as amended, was adopted. Clauses 13 and 14 were adopted. Clause 15, as amended, was adopted. Clause 16 was adopted. Clause 17, as amended, was adopted. Clause 18, as amended, was adopted. Clause 19 was adopted. Clause 20, as amended, was adopted. Clauses 21 and 22 were adopted. Clause 1, as amended, was adopted. The Enacting Formula, as amended, was adopted. The Title was adopted.

7TH SEPTEMBER, 2007 12-14 p.m. The motion moved by Shri T.R. Baalu that the Bill, as amended, be passed was adopted and the Bill, as amended, was passed. 12-15 p.m. 16. Statement by Minister 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, laid on the Table a statement (in English and Hindi) regarding selection of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs for the Indira Gandhi Official Language Award for 2005-2006. 12-16 p.m. 17. Special Mentions After taking the sense of the House, the Deputy Chairman directed that the following Special Mentions may be treated as laid on the Table of the House:— 1. Shri Ajay Maroo Concern over acute shortage of cooking gas in Jharkhand. 2. Shri Tiruchi Siva Demand to include Kallanai in the world heritage list. 3. Shri Bhagirathi Majhi Concern over frequent incidents of robbery/dacoity in Jharkhand Sampark Kranti Express Train. 4. Shri Rudra Narayan Pany Need to pay more attention towards the National Aluminum Company. 5. Prof. Ram Deo Bhandary Demand to place the sacred ashes of Lord Buddha at Vaishali. 6. Shri C. Ramachandraiah Demand to increase the retirement age of employees of the Central Government and PSUs. 7. Dr. Gyan Prakash Pilania Concern over indoor air pollution caused by traditional chulhas. RAJYA SABHA 8. Shri Tapan Kumar Request for upward revision of Sen ceiling under the Payment of Bonus Act. 9. Shri Varinder Singh Demand to increase the Bajwa compensation to farmers in border districts of Punjab.

(The House adjourned at 12-18 p.m. and re-assembled at 2-31 p.m.) 2-31 p.m. 18. Private Members’ Bills — Introduced 2-31 p.m. (1) The Farmers (Old Age Pension and Removal of Indebtedness) Bill, 2007 was introduced by Shrimati Sushma Swaraj. 2-32 p.m. (2) The Orphan, Exploited and Underprivileged Street Children (Care, Protection and Welfare) Bill, 2007 was introduced by Shrimati Sushma Swaraj. 2-33 p.m. (3) The Dalit and Tribal Girl Child (Special Educational Facilities and Welfare) Bill, 2007 was introduced by Shrimati Sushma Swaraj. 2-34 p.m. (4) The Working Women (Protection, Basic Facilities and Welfare) Bill, 2007 was introduced by Shri Santosh Bagrodia. 2-35 p.m. (5) The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2007 (insertion of new article 16A and substitution of new article for article 41)was introduced by Shri Santosh Bagrodia. 2-36 p.m. (6) The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2007 (insertion of new article 21B) was introduced by Shri Jai Parkash Aggarwal. 7TH SEPTEMBER, 2007 2-37 p.m. (7) The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2007 (insertion of new article 16A) was introduced by Shri Jai Parkash Aggarwal.

(8) The Youth Welfare Bill, 2007 was introduced by Shri Jai Parkash Aggarwal. 2-38 p.m. (9) The Destitute, Abandoned and Neglected Widows and Old Women (Welfare and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2007 was introduced by Prof. Alka Balram Kshatriya. (10) The School Education (Removal of Disparities between Government and Private Schools Through Uniform System and Syllabus) Bill, 2007 was introduced by Prof. Alka Balram Kshatriya. 2-39 p.m. (11) The Small Family Bill, 2007 was introduced by Prof. Alka Balram Kshatriya. 2-40 p.m. (12) The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2007 was introduced by Shri Kalraj Mishra. 2-41 p.m. (13) TheMotor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2007was introduced by Shri Kalraj Mishra. (14) The General Clauses (Amendment) Bill, 2007 was introduced by Shrimati Brinda Karat. (15) The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2007 (Amendment of article 15) was introduced by Ms. Pramila Bohidar.

RAJYA SABHA 2-42 p.m. 19. Messages from Lok Sabha (I) Motion Re: Extension of time for presentation of the Report of the Joint Committee to examine the constitutional and legal position relating to office of profit. (II) The Apprentices (Amendment) Bill, 2007.

Secretary-General reported to the House the following messages received from the Lok Sabha, signed by the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha:- (I)

Sir, I am directed to inform you that Lok Sabha, at its sitting held on the 7th of September, 2007, adopted the following motion regarding extension of time for presentation of the Report of the Joint Committee to examine the constitutional and legal position relating to office of profit:- MOTION "That this House do extend upto last day of the Winter session, 2007 the time for presentation of the Report of the Joint Committee to examine the constitutional and legal position relating to office of profit." (II) "In accordance with the provisions of rule 120 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, I am directed to inform you that Lok Sabha, at its sitting held on the 7th September, 2007, agreed without any amendment to the Apprentices Amendment) Bill, 2007, which was passed by Rajya Sabha at its sitting held on the 30th of August, 2007". 7TH SEPTEMBER, 2007

2-43 p.m. 20. Private Member’s Bill —Under Consideration The Compulsory Voting and Prohibition of Pre-Poll Survey and Exit Poll of Elections Bill, 2004 Further discussion of the following motion moved by Shri V. Narayanasamy on the 24th August, 2007, continued. The following members took part in the discussion:— 2-43 p.m. 1. Dr. M.S. Gill 3-14 p.m. 2. Shri Amar Singh** 3-24 p.m. 3. Shri Matilal Sarkar 3-38 p.m. 4. Shri Mangani Lal Mandal** 3-56 p.m. 5. Shri Shreegopal Vyas** 4-16 p.m. 6. Shri Tarlochan Singh** 4-30 p.m. 7. Shri Shantaram Laxman Naik (Speech Unfinished) The discussion was not concluded. (The House adjourned at 5-00 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Monday, the 10th September, 2007)