WEDNESDAY, the 16TH DECEMBER, 1998 (The Rajya

Home , Dilip Ray, George Fernandes, Ministry of Coal, Sikander Bakht

WEDNESDAY, THE 16TH DECEMBER, 1998

(The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament House at 11.00 a.m.)

1. PAPERS LAID ON THE TABLE

Shri L. K. Advani (Minister of Home Affairs & Deptt. of Jammu & Kashmir Affairs) laid on the Table-

I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Home Affairs Notification G.S.R. 407(E), dated the 24th July, 1998 publishing the Border Security Force (Air Wing Non-Gazetted (Combatised) Group 'C' Posts/Amendment Rules, 1998, under sub- section (3) of section 141 of the Border Security Force Act, 1968.

II. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Draft Ministers' (Allowances, Medical Treatment and other Privileges (Amendment) Rules, 1998, under sub-section (2) of section 11 of the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers Act, 1952.

Shri George Fernandes (Minister of Defence) 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) Annual Report and Accounts of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore for the year 1997-98, together with the Auditors' Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon.

(ii) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

II. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Defence Notification S.R.O No. 153 dated the 6th November, 1998 regarding the provision for appointment of women as officers in the Indian Navy in the Executive, Engineering, Electrical and Education Branches under section 185 of the Navy Act, 1957.

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

(i) Thirteenth Annual Report and Accounts of the Aeronautical Development agency Bangalore, for the year 1997-98, together with the Auditors' Report on the Accounts.

(ii) Statement by Government accepting the above Report.

Shri Dilip Ray [Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Coal and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs] laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:-

(a) Annual Report and Accounts of the Coal Mines Provident Fund, Coal Mines Family Pension and Coal Mines Deposit Linked Insurance Schemes, Dhanbad, for the year 1996-97 together with the Audit Report on the Accounts. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above statement.

2. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION

Miss Saroj Khaparde presented the hundred and Twenty-Second Report (in English and Hindi) of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation.

3. REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEE ON PAPERS LAID ON THE TABLE

Shri R. Margabandu presented the following reports (in English and Hindi) of the Committee of Papers laid on the Table:-

(i) 67th Report regarding United India Insurance Company Limited, Chennai Port Trust. Hindustan Photo Films Manufacturing Company Limited and Neyveli Lignite Corporation; and

(ii) 68th Report regarding National Fertilizers Limited and Oriental Insurance Company Limited.

4. REPORT AND MINUTES OF THE RAILWAYS CONVENTION COMMITTEE

Shri Janardan Yadav laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the First Report of the Railway Convention Committee on "Action Taken by Government on the recommendation contained in the Second Report of Railway Convention Committee (1996) on "Ninth Plan Perspective-Infrastructure Requirement of Indian Railways" alongwith Minutes relating thereto.

5. MOTION FOR ELECTION TO THE NATIONAL SHIPPING BOARD

Shri M. Thambi Burai (Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs) moved:

"That in pursuance of Clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 4 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958), read with sub-rule (2) of rule (4) of the National Shipping Board Rules, 1960, this House do proceed to elect, in such manner as the Chairman may direct, one member from among the members of the House to be member of the National Shipping Board in the vacancy caused by the retirement of Shri Narendra Pradhan from the membership of Rajya Sabha on the 1st July, 1998."

The motion was adopted.

6. REPLY TO THE DISCUSSION ON THE STATEMENT MADE BY PRIME MINISTER

Shri Jaswant Singh (Minister of External Affairs) spoke on the statement made by the prime Minister on the 15th December, 1998 on bilateral talks with the United States of America. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Prime Minister) replied to the discussion.

The discussion was concluded.

(The House adjourned for lunch at 12.59 p.m. and reassembled at 2.01 p.m.)

7. CALLING ATTENTION TO MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Shri Solipeta Ramachandra Reddy called the attention of the Minister of Railways to the alarming situation due to cracks in railway lines in different part of the country and the resultants train accidents.

Shri Nitish Kumar (Minister of Railways) made a statement.

Thereafter, Members sought clarifications on the statement.

Shri Nitish Kumar replied to the clarifications.

8. GOVERNMENT BILL-INTRODUCED

The patents (Amendment) Bill, 1998

Shri Sikander Bakht (Minister of Industry) moved for leave to introduce a Bill further to amend the Patents Act, 1970.

The motion for leave to introduce the Bill was opposed by the Members.

Thereafter, the motion was adopted and the bill was introduced.

(The House adjourned at 4.43 p.m. till 11.00 a.m. on Thursday, the 17th December, 1998.