FRIDAY, THE 5TH MAY, 2000 (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. 561 regarding Effect of price hike of PDS Commodities in Kerala. Starred Question No. 562 regarding American help for environment protection. Starred Question No. 563 regarding Drawal of excess subsidy by fertilizer manufacturers. Answers to remaining questions (564 to 580) were laid on the Table.

2. Unstarred Questions Answers to Unstarred Question Nos.4252 to 4406 were laid on the Table.

12 Noon 3. Papers Laid on the Table Shri Digvijay Singh (Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways) on behalf of Ms. Mamata Banerjee, the following papers laid on the Table:- I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) notification G.S.R. 212 (E) dated 1.3.2000 publishing the Railways Passengers (Cancellation of ticket and refund of fare) Rules, 2000, under Section 199 of the Railways Act, 1989.

II. (1) A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:— (a) Ninth Annual Report and Accounts of the Konkan Railway 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.

(2) Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above.

Shri Suresh Prabhu (Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— 5TH MAY, 2000

(a) Thirty-first Annual Report and Accounts of the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology, Chennai, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(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.

Shri Shanta Kumar (Minister of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution) the following papers 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) Fifteenth Annual Report and Accounts of the Hindustan Vegetable Oils 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. Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (I) above.

Shri N.T. Shanmugam (Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) the following papers laid on the Table:- I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Department of Health) notification G.S.R. 753 (E) dated 4.11.1999 publishing the Drugs and Cosmetics (4th Amendment) Rules, 1999, under Section 38 of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940.

II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:— (i) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital, Allahabad, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Hospital.

(c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

(ii) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre, Cuttack, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Centre.

(c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

(iii) (a) Annual Report of the Medical Council of India, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99.

(b) Annual Accounts of the Medical Council of India, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99, and the Audit Report thereon.

(c) Review by Government on the working of the above Council.

(d) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) and (b) above.

(iv) (a) Annual Report of the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99.

(b) Annual Accounts of the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99, and the Audit Report thereon.

(c) Review by Government on the working of the above Institute.

(d) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) and (b) above

(v) (a) Annual Report of the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, for the year 1998-99.

(b) Annual Accounts of the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, for the year 1998-99, and the Audit Report thereon. 5TH MAY, 2000

(c) Review by Government on the working of the above Institute.

(d) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) and (b) above.

Shri Ramesh Bais (Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:—

(i) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers) and Hindustan Organic Chemicals Limited for the year 1999-2000.

(ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Fertilizers) and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited for the year 2000-2001.

Shri Jaysingrao Gaikwad Patil (Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource Development) the following papers laid on the Table:-

I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:—

(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Educational Consultants India 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 Company.

(2) Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (1) above.

II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:—

(i) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Haryana Prathmik Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad, Chandigarh, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts. (b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

(c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

(ii) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Himachal Pradesh Primary Education Society, Shimla, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

(c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

(iii) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Tamil Nadu State Mission of Education for All, Chennai, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

(c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

(iv) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Assam Prathamik Siksha Achani Parishad, Guwahati, for the year 1998-99.

(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

(c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

(v) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Karnataka Prathamika Shikshana Vikasa Yojana Samithi, Bangalore, for the year 1998-99.

(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

(c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

5TH MAY, 2000

(vi) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Gujarat Council of Primary Education, Gandhingar, for the year 1998-99, , together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

(c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

Shri Babu Lal Marandi (Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment and Forests) laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Environment & Forests notification S.O. 123 (E) dated 14.2.2000 publishing the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 under Section 26 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Ms. Sumitra mahajan (Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource Development (Department of Woman and Child Development) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:—

(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

(c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

Shri Bachi Singh Rawat (Minister of State in the Department of Science and Technology in the Ministry of Science and Technology) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:—

(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the National Centre for Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

(c) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above.

Shri EV alias Balasaheb Vikhe Patil (Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance) laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the following Reports under clause (1) of article 151 of Constitution :—

(i) Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 1999 (No. 10 of 2000) Union Government (Indirect Taxes - Customs).

(ii) Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 1999 (No. 11 of 2000) Union Government (Indirect Taxes - Central Excise & Service Tax).

(iii) Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 1999 (No. 6 of 2000) Union Government (Post and Telecommunications).

(iv) Appropriation Accounts for the year 1998-99 (Postal Services).

(v) Appropriation Accounts for the year 1998-99 (Telecommunication Services).

12-03 p.m.

4. Recommendations of the Business Advisory Committee

The Chairman informed the House that the Business Advisory Committee at its meeting held on Thursday, the 4th May, 2000 allotted time for Government Legislative and other business as follows:-

5TH MAY, 2000

Business Time allotted 1. Consideration and return of the Appropriation (No.2) Bill, One day (i.e. 2000 as passed by Lok Sabha 4 Hours) 2. Consideration and return of the Finance Bill, 2000 after it is One day (i.e. 4 passed by Lok Sabha Hours) 3. Consideration and passing of:- 2 Hours (i) The Major Port Trusts (Amendment) Bill, 1998 2 Hours (ii) The National Housing Bank (Amendment) Bill, 2000 4. Consideration and passing of the following Bills after these 2 Hours have been passed by Lok Sabha:- 2 Hours (i) The Constitution (89th Amendment) Bill, 2000 (ii) The Constitution (90th Amendment) Bill, 2000 5. Motions for annulment of the nationalised Banks 1 Hour (Management and Miscellaneous provisions) (Amendment) Scheme, 2000

12-04 p.m.

5. Leave of Absence

Shri Devi Lal (Haryana) was granted leave of absence from 17th April to 17th May, 2000 from the sittings of the House during the second part of the current Session of the Rajya Sabha.

12-05 p.m.

6. Motion for Election to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh — Adopted

A motion for election of one member to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh was moved and adopted.

12-06 p.m.

7. Motion for Election to the General Council of the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad — Adopted

A motion for election of one member to the General Council of the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad was moved and adopted.

12-07 p.m.

8. Statement regarding Government Business

Shri O. Rajagopal (Minister of State in the Ministries of Law, Justice and Company Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs) made a statement regarding Government Business in the Rajya Sabha during the week commencing Monday, the 8th May, 2000.

12-09 p.m.

9. Calling Attention to Matter of Urgent Public Importance

Shri Nilotpal Basu called the attention of the Minister of Communications to the situation arising out of the Sankhya Vahini Project and apprehensions of emergence of a private techno-monopoly over the entire information and communication sector.

Shri Ram Vilas Paswan (Minister of Communications) made a statement.

Thereafter, Members sought clarifications on the Statement.

3.01 p.m.

10. Private Member's Resolution — Under Consideration

Further Discussion on the following Resolution moved by Shri Ramdas Agarwal on the 10th December, 1999 and the amendment moved thereto by Shri Eduardo Faleiro on the 10th December, 1999, continued:—

5TH MAY, 2000

"That this House is of the opinion that a review of the Constitution of India has become necessary in the light of our experience during the last 50 years both at the State and Central level and recommends to the Government to take early action in this regard."

Shri R.S. Gavai took part in the discussion.

(The House adjourned at 3.55 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Monday, the 8th May, 2000) ______