FRIDAY, THE 29TH OCTOBER, 1999 (The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament house at 11.00 a.m.) 1. Introduction of Ministers by the Leader of the House Shri Jaswant Singh (Minister of External Affairs and Leader of the House) introduced the following Ministers to the House:- 29TH OCTOBER, 1999 1. Shri George Fernandes – Minister of Defence 2. Shri Murasoli Maran – Minister of Commerce and Industry 3. Shri Yashwant Sinha – Minister of Finance 4. Shri Subhash Maharia – Minister of State for Rural Development 5. Shri Babu Lal Marandi – Minister of State for Environment and Forests 6. Shri Ajit Kumar Panja – Minister of State for External Affairs 7. Shri Bachi Singh Rawat – Minister of State for Defence 8. Shri Tapan Sikdar – Minister of State for Communications 9. Shri Digvijay Singh – Minister of State for Railways 11-03 a.m. 2. Papers Laid on the Table Shri Chennamaneni Vidya Sagar Rao (Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs) on behalf of Shri L.K. Advani laid on the Table- 1. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following notifications of the Ministry of Home Affairs, under sub-section (2) of Section 156 of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992. (i) G.S.R. 551 (E) dated 27.7.99 publishing the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, Armourer Cadre (Group ‘C’ posts) Recruitment Rules 1999. (ii) G.S.R. 628 (E) dated 9.9.99 publishing the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, Armourer Cadre (Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ Posts) Recruitment Rules, 1999. 2. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Home Affairs Notification, under Sections 3 & 12 of the Assam Rifles Act, 1941, G.S.R. 105 dated 10.4.99 publishing the Assam Rifles (Amendment) Rules, 1999. 3. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following notifications of the Ministry of Home, under sub section (3) of section 141 of the Border Security Force Act, 1968: — (i) G.S.R. 195 dated 26.6.99 publishing the Border Security Force (Draftsman and Architectural Assistant) Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 1999. (ii) G.S.R. 226 dated 24.7.99 publishing the Border Security Force Inspector (Librarian) (combatised, Non-Gazetted Group `B’) Recruitment set of laws, 1999. (iii) G.S.R. 263 dated 13.8.99 publishing the Border Security Force Sub-Inspector (ProofReader combatised posts) Recruitment Rules, 1999. 29TH OCTOBER, 1999 (iv) G.S.R. 334 dated 17.9.99 publishing the Border Security Force [Air Wing Non Gazetted (Combatised) Group`B’ and `C’ Posts] Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 1999. (v) G.S.R. 315 dated 20.9.99 publishing the Border Security Force (Group `B’ Non-Gazetted, combatised para-Medical staff) recruitment Rules, 1999. Ms. Mamata Banerjee (Minister of Railways) laid on the Table- 4. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) Notification S.O. 990 dated 31.3.1999 regarding investing the Railway Board with all the persons and functions of the Central Government under sections 30 & 31 of the Railways Act, 1989 under sub-section (3) of Section 30 of the Railway Act, 1989. Shri George Fernandes (Minister of Defence) laid on the Table- 5. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers: — a. Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production and Supplies) and Bharat Earth Movers Limited, for the year 1999-2000. (ii) (a) Annual Administration Reports of the Cantonment Boards, for the year 1997-98. (b) Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above. Shri Ram Jethmalani (Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers- a. Annual Report and Accounts of the National Judicial Academy, New Delhi, for the year 1997-98, together with the Audit Report on the Accounts. b. Statement giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) above Shri Ram Naik (Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas)laid on the Table a copy each of the following papers, under sub-section (4) of section 3 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952: — a. Inquiry Report on Visakh Refinery fire incident on September 14, 1997, at HPCL Visakh Refinery (in English). 29TH OCTOBER, 1999 (b) Memorandum of action taken on the Report of the Justice S.C. Jain Commission of Inquiry into the fire incident at HPCL Visakh Refinery (in English and Hindi). II. Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (a) and (b) above. III. Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for not laying the Hindi version of the Report mentioned at I (a) above. Shri Ramesh Bais (Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemical & Fertilizers) on behalf of Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu 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.5 of 1999)- Union Government (Commercial) Paradeep Phosphates Ltd., under clause (1) of article 151 of Constitution. II. 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, Department of Fertilizers) and Madras Fertilizers Limited, for the year 1999-2000. (ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Fertilizers) and Paradeep Phosphates Limited, for the year 1999-2000. (iii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India (Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Deptt. of Fertilizers) and National Fertilizers Limited, for the year 1999-2000. Shri Shanta Kumar** (Minister of Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution) laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following notifications of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (Department of Consumer Affairs) under Section 83 of the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976: — i. G.S.R. No. 246 (E) dated 6.4.99 publishing the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Amendment Rules, 1999. ii. G.S.R. No. 323 (E) dated 10.5.99 publishing the Standards of Weights and Measures (General) Amendment Rules, 1999. iii. G.S.R. No. 594 (E) dated 17.8.99 publishing the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) (Second Amendment) Rules, 1999 _______________________________________________________________ ** Spoken in Hindi. 29TH OCTOBER, 1999 Shri Yashwant Sinha (Minister of Finance) laid on the Table- 11. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Reports under clause (1) of article 151 of the Constitution: — ii. Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 1998 (No.1 of 1999) Union Government (Civil); Union Government Appropriation Accounts (Civil) 1997-98 and Union Government Finance Accounts for the year 1997-98; iii. Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 1998 (No.2 of 1999) Union Government (Civil)- Transaction Audit Observations; iv. Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 1998 (No.4 of 1999) Union Government (Civil)-Other Autonomous Bodies; v. Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 1998 (No.5 of 1999) Union Government (Scientific Department); vi. Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 1998 (No.6 of 1999) Union Government (Post and Telecommunications); vii. Appropriation Accounts for the year 1997-98 (Postal Service); viii. Appropriation Accounts for the year 1997-98 (Telecommunication Services); ix. Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 1998 (No.9 of 1999) Union Government (Railways); x. Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 1998 (No.10 of 1999) Union Government (Indirect Taxes-Customs); xi. Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended 31st March, 1998 (No.11 of 1999) Union Government (Indirect Taxes-Central Excise); Smt. Vasundhara Raje (Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Small Scale Industries, Agro. & Rural Industries. In addition will be Minister of State assisting the Prime Minister in the Ministry of Personnel & Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space) laid on the Table- 12. (I) A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619 of the Companies Act, 1956: — 29TH OCTOBER, 1999 (a) Tenth Annual Report and Accounts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited, Port Blair, 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) Statement by Government accepting the above Report. II. Statement (in English and Hindi) giving reasons for the delay in laying the papers mentioned at (I) above. Shri V. Dhananjay Kumar (Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance) laid on the Table- 13. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following notifications of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), under Section 119 of the Income Tax Act, 1961: — i. Notification No.225/38/96/ITA-II dated 16.7.99 regarding relaxation of conditions laid down in Section 43B of I.T. Act, 1961 in the care of M/s. Star Tile Works Ltd., Ker for Assessment years 1989-90 to 93-94. ii. Notification No.212/14/95/ITA-II) dated 16.7.99 regarding relaxation of conditions laid down in Sec.