TUESDAY, THE 21ST 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.322 regarding Khuga Dam Project in Manipur.

Starred Question No.323 regarding Development of tourism in Kanyakumari.

Starred Question No.324 regarding Operation of air services between Delhi and Calcutta via Bhagalpur.

Starred Question No.325 regarding Bill to bar candidates from contesting from more than one constituency.

Starred Question No.326 regarding Road links to Buddhist places in Uttar Pradesh.

Answers to remaining questions (321, 327 to 340) were laid on the Table.

2. Unstarred Questions

Answers to Unstarred Question Nos.1989 to 2143 were laid on the Table.

12 Noon

3. Papers Laid on the Table

The following papers were laid on the Table: —

Shri Ram Vilas Paswan **(Minister of Communications) laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Communications (Department of Post) G.S.R. 345 (E) dated 13.5.1999 publishing the Indian Post Office (4th Amendment) Rules, 1999 under Section 7 of Indian Post Office Act, 1898.

Dr. C.P. Thakur (Minister of Water Resources) laid on the Table----

I. 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) Forty-first Annual Report and Accounts of the National Projects Construction 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 thereon.

(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Corporation. ------** Spoken in Hindi

21ST DECEMBER, 1999

(i) (a) Thirtieth Annual Report and Accounts of the Water and Power Consultancy Services (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) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

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

II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 15 of the Betwa River Board Act, 1976:—

(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Betwa River Board, Jhansi, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

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

(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the National Water Development Agency, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

Ms. Uma Bharati **(Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Tourism) 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:—

------** Spoken in Hindi

(i) (a) Thirty-fourth Annual Report and Accounts of the India Tourism Development 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) Thirteenth Annual Report and Accounts of the Pondicherry Ashok Hotel Corporation 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) Review by Government on the working of the above Corporation.

Shri V. Dhananjay Kumar (Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance) laid on the Table (I). A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619 of the Companies Act, 1956:—

(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Uttar Pradesh Projects and Tubewell Corporation Limited, Gomti Nagar, for the year 1996-97, 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.

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

II.. A Statement (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) giving reasons for delay in laying the Ministry's Notification GSR 99 dated 11.02.99 which was laid on the Table of the House on 7th December, 1999. 21ST DECEMBER, 1999

Dr. Debendra Pradhan (Minister of State in the Ministry of Surface Transport_ A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Surface Transport (Transport –Wing), under sub-section (1) of section 212 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, alongwith Explanatory Memoranda thereon: —

(1) G.S.R. 33 (E) dated 14.1.1999 publishing the Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 1999.

(2) G.S.R. 214 (E) dated 18.3.1999 publishing the Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) rules, 1999.

(3) G.S.R. 399 (E) dated 1.6.1999 publishing the Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 1999.

(4) G.S.R. 520 (E) dated 14.7.1999 publishing the Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 1999.

(5) G.S.R. 627 (E) dated 8.9.1999 publishing the Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 1999.

(6) G.S.R. 684 (E) dated 5.10.1999 publishing the Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 1999.

(7) G.S.R. 688 (E) dated 8.10.1999 publishing the Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 1999.

II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Surface Transport (Transport –Wing) under sub-section (3) of section 23 of the Delhi Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1962, alongwith Explanatory Memoranda and Delay Statement thereon :—

(1) No. F.AO/Accts./93-94/271-292 dated 14.7.1997 publishing the Notification regarding enhancement in the Motor Vehicles Tax by 25% under sub-section (2) of section 3 of Delhi Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1962 with a view to raise resources for Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS).

(2) No. F.AO/Accts./93-94/391-413 dated 13.8.1997 publishing the Notification regarding enhancement in the Motor Vehicles Tax by 25% under sub-section (2) of section 3 of Delhi Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1962 with a view to raise resources for Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS).

(3). No. F.AO/Accts./93-94/480/501 dated 12.9.1997 publishing the Notification regarding enhancement in the Motor Vehicles Tax by 25% under sub-section (2) of section 3 of Delhi Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1962 with a view to raise resources for Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS).

III. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Surface Transport (Department of Shipping), under sub-section (4) of section 124 of the Major Ports Transaction of Business, Regulations, 1998, alongwith Delay Statement thereon :—

(1)No. C-19011/1/98-TAMP dated 13.8.1998 publishing the Tariff Authority for Major Ports (Transaction of Business) Regulations, 1998.

(2) No. C-19011/1/98-TAMP dated 4.5.1999 publishing the Tariff Authority for Major Ports (Transaction of Business) Regulations, 1998.

IV. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Surface Transport, under Section 10 of the National Highways Act, 1956 , alongwith Delay Statement thereon:—

(1) S.O. 491 (E) dated 5.6.1998 regarding entrustment of the part of newly declared NH 58 to the State Government of Uttar Pradesh.

(2) S.O. 581 (E) dated 10.7.1998 regarding rates of levied and paid fees on mechanical vehicles, for the use of the part of the National Highway i.e. four lane road over bridge in lieu of level crossing between km 261/2to km 261/4 in Ahmedabad-Mumbai Section of NH 8 alongwith amendment (GSR-978(E) dated 19.11.99) thereto.

21ST DECEMBER, 1999

(3) S.O. 697 (E) dated 14.8.1998 regarding fees to be levied and paid on mechanical vehicles for use of six bridges at Musi, Palleru, Gundlakama, Manneru, Mudigonda on NH-5 alongwith Minor bridge at km 273/6 of NH-5 in Andhra Pradesh.

(4) S.O. 716 (E) dated 21.8.1998 regarding toll rates to be collected from users of Coimbatore Bypass & Attapalam bridge.

(5) S.O. 717 (E) dated 21.8.1998 regarding toll rates to be collected from users of Coimbatore Bypass & Attapalam bridge.

(6) S.O. 797 (E) dated 9.9.1998 regarding entrustment of the development and maintenance of National Highways.

(7) S.O. 847 (E) dated 22.9.1998 regarding entrustment of the development and maintenance of National Highways.

(8) S.O. 912 (E) dated 20.10.1998 regarding entrustment of the development and maintenance of National Highways.

(9) S.O. 978 (E) dated 19.11.1998 regarding amendment to Notification in the Ministry of Surface Transport (Road Wing) S.O. 581 (E) of 10th July, 1998.

(10) S.O. 979 (E) dated 19.11.1998 regarding amendment to Notification of the Ministry of Surface Transport (Road Wing) S.O. 432 (E) of 6th June, 1997.

(11) S.O. 983 (E) dated 20.11.1998 regarding appointment of Land Acuisition Officer for Hubli –Dharwad Byepass.

(12) S.O. 990 (E) dated 24.11.1998 regarding aquisition of land under Section 3 D of NH Act 1956 for Second Vivekananda Bridge over River Hoogly.

(13) S.O. 7 (E) dated 6.1.1999 regarding declaration of New National Highways under section 2 (2) of NH Act, 1956.

(14) S.O. 27 (E) dated 21.1.1999 regarding acquisition of land for Hubli- Dharwad Byepass together with amendment (GSR 139(E) dated 3.3.1999) thereto.

(15) S.O. 139 (E) dated 3.3.1999 regarding amendment in the Notification of the Government of India Ministry of Surface Transport (Road Wing) G.S.R. No. 21 (E) of 21st January , 1999.

(16) S.O. 282 (E) dated 23.4.1999 regarding entrustment of development and maintenance of newly declared National Highways to the State Government of Bihar.

(17) S.O. 291 (E) dated 29.4.1999 regarding 1999 regarding entrustment of development and maintenance of newly declared National Highways to the State Government of Orissa.

(18) S.O. 394 (E) dated 28.5.1999 regarding entrustment of development and maintenance of New National Highways to the State Governments.

(19) S.O. 489 (E) dated 24.6.1999 regarding acquisition of land for Hubli- Dharwad Byepass.

(20) S.O. 561 (E) dated 7.7..1999 regarding declaration of new National Highways under section 2 (2) of NH Act, 1956.

(21) S.O. 767 (E) dated 15.9.1999 regarding acquisition of land for the Hubli-Dharwad Byepass.

(22) S.O. 771 (E) dated 17.9.1999 regarding the declaration of National Highway.

V (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) Thirtieth Annual Report and Accounts of the Central Inland Water Transport Corporation Limited, Calcutta, for the year 1996-97, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon.

21ST DECEMBER, 1999

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

(i) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Hooghly Dock and Port 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) Review by Government on the working of the above Company.

(ii) (a) Forty-ninth Annual Report and Accounts of the Shipping 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.

(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) (i) above.

VI. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (2) of section 103 of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963:—

(i) (a) Annual Accounts of the Visakhapatnam Port Trust, for the year 1998-99, and the Audit Report thereon.

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

(ii) (a) Annual Accounts of the Kandla Port Trust, for the year 1998-99, and the Audit Report thereon.

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

VII. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under section 106 of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963:—

(i) (a) Annual Administration Report of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, Navi Mumbai, for the year 1998-99.

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

(ii) (a) Annual Administration Report of the Visakhapatnam Port Trust, for the year 1998-99.

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

(iii) (a) Annual Administration Report of the Tuticorin Port Trust, for the year 1998-99.

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

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

(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the National Institute for the Training of Highway Engineers, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditors Report on the Accounts.

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

Shri O. Rajagopal (Minister of State in the Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs) laid on the Table the following statements (in English and Hindi) showing the action taken by Government on the various assurances, promises and undertakings given during the Session shown against each:—

1. Statement No. XLI Hundred and Fifty-fifth Session, 1990 2. Statement No. XXVI Hundred and Sixty-eighth Session, 1993 3. Statement No. XII Hundred and Seventy-ninth Session, 1996 21ST DECEMBER, 1999

4. Statement No. X Hundred and Eighty -first Session, 1997 5. Statement No. IX Hundred and Eighty- second Session, 1997 6. Statement No. VI Hundred and Eighty-fourth Session, 1998

7. Statement No. IV Hundred and Eighty –fifth Session, 1998 8. Statement No. III Hundred and Eighty-sixth Session, 1999 Shri Tapan Sikdar **(Minister of State in the Ministry Communication) 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:— (i) (a) Thirty-eighth Annual Report and Accounts of the HTL Limited, Chennai, 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.

(ii) (a) Forty-ninth Annual Report and Accounts of the ITI 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) Review by Government on the working of the above Company.

(iii) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Telecommunications 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.

______** Spoken in Hindi.

(iv) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Videsh Sanchar Nigam 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) Review by Government on the working of the above Company.

(a) Thirteenth Annual Report and Accounts of the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam 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.

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

(i) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications) and HTL Limited for the year 1999-2000.

(ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications) and ITI Limited for the year 1999-2000.

Shri EV alis Balasaheb Vikhe Patil (Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance) laid on the Table---

I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notification of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), under Section 159 of the Customs Act, 1962, alongwith Explanatory Memoranda thereon :—

(1) G.S.R. 710(E) dated 22.10.1999 publishing the Notification No. 59/99- Costoms (N.T.) dated 22.10.1999 seeking promulgation of Customs (Settlement of Cases) Rules, 1999 to regulate matters relating to settlement of cases by the Customs and Central Excise Settlement Commission 21ST DECEMBER, 1999

(2) G.S.R. 777(E) dated 18.11.1999 publishing Customs (Appeals) (Amendments) Rules, 1999 amending the customs (Appeals) Rules, 1982.

II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notifications of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), under sub-section (2) of Section 38 of the Central Excise Act, 1944, alongwith Explanatory Memoranda thereon :—

1. G.S.R. 709(E) dated 22.10.1999 publishing the Central Excise (Seventeenth Amendment) Rules, 1999 inserting Chapter XIII in the Central Excise Rules, 1944 to govern the matters relating to settlement of cases by the Customs and Central Excise Settlement Commission. 2. G.S.R. 778(E) dated 17.11.1999 publishing the Central Excise (Nineteenth Amendment) Rules, 1999 seeking amendment to the Central Excise Rules, 1944 to provide for the manner and form of application to the High Court against the orders of CEGAT in matters other than those relating to valuation and rate of duty. 3. G.S.R. 787(E) dated 26.11.1999 publishing the Notification No. 41/99-Central Excise (N.T.) dated 26.11.1999 exempting tea, cleared from a factory owned by a cooperative society or a bought-leaf factory, from the whole of the duty of excise leviable thereon.

III. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) (Banking Division) Notification No. 45 dated 6.11.1999 publishing the amendment to State Bank of India Regulation to amend the State Bank of India General Regulations, 1955- under sub-section (4) of Section 50 of the State Bank of India Act, 1955.

IV. 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 Oriental Insurance Company 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.

(ii) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the New India Assurance Company 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) Review by Government on the working of the above Company.

(iii) (a) Ninety-second Annual Report and Accounts of the National Insurance Company 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) Review by Government on the working of the above Company.

(iv) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the United India Insurance Company Limited, Chennai, for the year 1998-99, together with theAuditor'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.

V. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (3) of section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1982:—

(a) Annual Report of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, for the year 1998-99.

(b) Review by Government on the working of the above Board. 21ST DECEMBER, 1999

VI. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the Annual Reports and Accounts of the following Regional Rural Banks for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor’s Report on the Accounts:—

(i)Mizoram Rural Bank, Aizwal (Mizoram) (ii)Bardhaman Gramin Bank, Burdwan () (iii)Kamraz Rural Bank, Sopore (Jammu and Kashmir).

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

(i) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the National Housing Bank, New Delhi, for the year 1997-98, together with the Auditor’s Report on the Accounts, under sub-section (5) of section 40 of the National Housing Bank Act, 1987.

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

(ii) (a) Report on Trend and Progress of Housing in India for the period ended June 30,1996, under section 42 of the National Housing Bank Act, 1987.

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

(iii) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, 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 Institute. (iv) (a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Indian Investment Centre, New Delhi, for the year 1998-99, together with the Auditor's Report on the Accounts.

(b) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

12-02 p.m.

4. Messages from the — Reported

The Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 1999,

The Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, 1999,

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

“In accordance with the provisions of rule 120 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct in Lok Sabha, I am directed to inform you that Lok Sabha, at its sitting held on the 20th December, 1999, agreed without any amendment to the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 1999, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha at its sitting held on the 29th November, 1999.”

(II)

“In accordance with the provisions of rule 120 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct in Lok Sabha, I am directed to inform you that Lok Sabha, at its sitting held on the 20th December, 1999, agreed without any amendment to the The Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill, 1999, which was passed by Rajya Sabha at its sitting held on the Ist December, 1999.”

12-17 p.m.

5. Calling Attention to Matter of Urgent Public Importance

Shri Suresh Pachouri called the attention of the Minister of Agriculture to the plight of Soyabean growers and Soyabean processing industry in the country following the crash in prices.

21ST DECEMBER, 1999

Shri Nitish Kumar (Minister of Agriculture) made a statement. Thereafter, Members sought clarifications on the statement.

(The House adjourned at 1.48 p.m. for lunch and reassembled at 3.01 p.m. )

3-01 p.m.

6. Government Bills — Introduced

I. The Mizoram University Bill, 1999

Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi**(Minister of Human Resource Development, Science and Technology and Ocean Development) moved for leave to introduce the Mizoram University Bill., 1999.

II. The Repealing and Amending Bill, 1999

Shri O Rajagopal (Minister of State in the Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs) on behalf of Shri Ram Jethmalani moved for leave to introduce a Bill repeal certain enactments and to amend certain other enactments..

7. Government Bill — Passed

I. The Appropriation (Railways) No.4 Bill, 1999 II. The Appropriation (Railways) No.4 Bill, 1999 as passed by Lok Sabha

Further discussion on the motion for the consideration of the Bill moved by Ms. Mamta Banerjee (Minister of Railways) on the 20th December, 1999, continued.

------** Spoken in Hindi

The following Members took part in the discussion:—

3-06 p.m. 1. Shri Ramji Lal ** 3-21 p.m. 2. Chaudhary Chunni Lal ** 3-34 p.m. 3. Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav ** 3-40 p.m. 4. Shri Nagendra Nath Ojha ** 3-50 p.m. 5. Shri M.A. Kadar 3-54 p.m. 6. Shri P. Soundararajan 4-02 p.m. 7. Shri Gandhi Azad ** 4-08 p.m. 8. Shri Gopalsinh G. Solanki 4-15 p.m. 9. Shri P. Prabhakar Reddy 4-23 p.m. 10. Shrimati Basanti Sarma 4-27 p.m. 11. Shri Satishchandra Sitaram Pradhan** 4-36 p.m. 12. Shri Ramachandra Khuntia 4-43 p.m. 13. Shri Suresh A. Keswani 4-48 p.m. 14. Shri Vijay J. Darda** 4-57 p.m. 15. Shri Balwant Singh Ramoowalia**

Ms. Mamta Banerjee replied to the debate. The motion for consideration of the Bill was adopted. Thereafter, clause by clause consideration of the Bill was taken up. Clauses 2, 3 and the Schedule were added to the Bill. Clause 1, the Enacting Formula and the Title were adopted.

Ms. Mamta Banerjee moved:

That the Bill be returned. The Motion moved by Ms. Mamta Banerjee that the Bill be returned was adopted and the Bill was returned.

8. Government Bills # — Deferred

The Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Bill, 1999

The Constitution (Eighty-seventh Amendment) Bill, 1999

On the suggestion of Shri Pramod Mahajan (Minister of Information Technology and Parliamentary Affairs) agreed to by the House, the consideration of the Bills was deferred. ______** Spoken in Hindi, # Discussed together 21ST DECEMBER, 1999

5-40 p.m.

9. Government Bill — Motion for reference of the Bill to Joint Committee — Adopted

The Patents (Second Amendment) Bill, 1999

Dr. Raman (Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry) moved the following Motion:—

“That the Bill further to amend the Patents Act, 1970, be referred to a Joint Committee of the Houses consisting of 30 Members. 10 Members from this House, namely:-

Shri T.N. Chaturvedi Dr. L.M. Singhvi Shri Suresh A. Keswani Dr. M.N. Das Dr. Biplab Dasgupta Shri C.P. Thirunavukkarasu Shri J. Chitharanjan Shri K. Kalavenkata Rao Shri Satishchandra Sitaram Pradhan Shri jayant Kumar Malhoutra

And 20 members from the Lok Sabha.

That in order to constitute a sitting of the Joint Committee, the quorum shall be one-third of the total number of Members of the Joint Committee;

That the Committee shall make a report to this House by the first day of the next Session of the Rajya Sabha;

That in other respects the Rules of Procedure of this House relating to Select Parliamentary Committee shall apply with such variations and modifications as the Chairman may make; and

That this House recommends to the Lok Sabha that Lok Sabha do join the said Committee and communicate to this House the names of Members to be appointed by Lok Sabha to the Joint Committee.”

The Motion was adopted.

5-43 p.m.

10. Half-an-Hour Discussion

Dr. Raja Ramanna raised a discussion on the points arising out of the answer given in the Rajya Sabha on the 1st December, 1999 to Starred Question 42, regarding power shortage.

The following Members put questions:—

5-53 p.m. 1. Shri Dipankar Mukherjee 6-01 p.m. 2. Shri R. Margabandu 6-03 p.m. 3. Shri S.B. Chavan 6-13 p.m. 4. Shri Jayant Kumar Malhotra 6-24 p.m. 5. Shri Ramdas Agarwal **

6-30 p.m.

Shri R. Kumaramangalam, (Minister of Power) replied.

The discussion was concluded.

11. Messages from the Lok Sabha — Reported

(I) Central Vigilance Commission Bill, 1999.

(II) Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Bill, 1999.

Additional Secretary reported to the House the following messages received from the Lok Sabha, signed by the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha.

______** Spoken in Hindi. 21ST DECEMBER, 1999

(I)

“I am directed to inform you that Lok Sabha, at its sitting held on Tuesday, the 21st December, 1999, adopted the enclosed motion in regard to the Central Vigilance Commission Bill, 1999.

2. I am to request that the concurrence of Rajya Sabha in the said motion, and also the names of the Members of Rajya Sabha appointed to the Joint Committee, may be communicated to this House.

MOTION

“That the Bill to provide for the constitution of a Central Vigilance Commission to inquire or cause inquiries to be conducted into offences alleged to have been committed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 by certain categories of public servants of the Central Government, corporations established by or under any Central Act, Government companies, societies and local authorities owned or controlled by the Central Government and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, be referred to a Joint Committee of the House consisting of 30 Members, 20 from this House, namely

1. Shri Rashid Alvi 2. Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal 3. Shri Raghunandan Lal Bhatia 4. Shri Samar Chowdhury 5. Shrimati Bhavnaben Chikhalia 6. Shri 7. Shri Anant Mahadeoappa Gudhe 8. Maj.Gen.(Retd.) Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri 9. Shri C. Kuppusamy 10. Shri Bhartruhari Mahatab 11. Shri M.V.V.S. Murthy 12. Shri P.H. Pandian 13. Shri Sharad Pawar 14. Shri Anadi Charan Sahu 15. Dr. Nitish Sengupta 16. Shri Maheshwar Singh 17. Shri Raghuvansh Prasad Singh 18. Shri Balaram Singh Yadav 19. Shri Devendra Prasad Yadav 20. Shrimati Vasundhara Raje and 10 from Rajya Sabha;

that in order to constitute a sitting of the Joint Committee the quorum shall be one-third of the total number of members of the joint Committee;

that the Committee shall make a report to this House by the last day of the first week of the next Session;

that in other respects the Rules of Procedure of this House relating to Parliamentary Committees shall apply with such variations and modifications as the Speaker may make; and

that this house do recommend to Rajya Sabha that Rajya Sabha do join the said Joint Committee and communicate to this House the names of 10 members to the appointed by Rajya Sabha to the Joint Committee."

(II)

“I am directed to informe you that Lok Sabha, at its sitting held on Tuesday, the 21st December, 1999, adopted the enclosed motion in regard to the protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Bill, 1999

I am to request that the concurrence of Rajya Sabaha in the said motion, and also the names of the Members of Rajya Sabha appointed to the Joint Committee, may be communicated to this House.”

MOTION

“That the Bill to provide for the establishment of an Authority to give an effective system for protection of the rights of plant breeders and farmers, and to encourage the development of new varieties of plants, and to give effect to sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 3 of article 27 of Part II of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, be referred to a Joint Committee of the Houses consisting of 30 Members, 20 from this House, namely:-

21ST DECEMBER, 1999

1. Dr. Baliram 2. Shri 3. Shrimati Kailasho Devi 4. Shri G. Putta Swamy Gowda 5. Shri Suresh Ramrao Jadhav 6. Shri Raghuveer Singh Kaushal 7. Dr. Ramkrishna Kusmaria 8. Shri Jagannath Mallick 9. Shri Kamal Nath 10. Dr. Ranjit Kumar Panja 11. Shri Anna Saheb M.K. Patil 12. Shri Sharad Pawar 13. Shri Nawal Kishore Rai 14. Shri Chandra Bhushan Singh 15. Shri Ram Prasad Singh 16. Shri Shankar Sinh Vaghela 17. Shri Ummareddy Venkateswarlu 18. Shri Sahib Singh Verma 19. Shri Mahboob Zahedi 20. Shri Nitish Kumar

and 10 from Rajya Sabha;

that in order to constitute a sitting of the Joint Committee the quorum shall be one-third of the total number of members of the joint Committee;

that the Committee shall make a report to this House by the last day of the first week of the next Session;

that in other respects the Rules of Procedure of this House relating to Parliamentary Committees shall apply with such variations and modifications as the Speaker may make; and

that this house do recommend to Rajya Sabha that Rajya Sabha do join the said Joint Committee and communicate to this house the names of 10 members to the appointed by Rajya Sabha to the Joint Committee."

(III)

"That this house do recommend to the Rajya Sabha to agree to associate six Members from the Rajya Sabha with the Parliamentary Committee to review the Rate of Dividend which is at present payable by the Indian Railways to the General Revenues as well as other ancillary matters in connection with Railway Finance vis-à-vis the General Finance and to make recommendations thereon and to communicate the names of the Members so appointed to this House".

(The House adjourned at 6.52 p.m. till 11-00 a.m. on Wednesday, the 22nd December, 1999 ).