Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Thursday ticked off the government for bringing several amendments to the Finance Bill 2015-16 at the last minute.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Thursday ticked off the government for bringing several amendments to the Finance Bill 2015-16 at the last minute.
Her observation followed protests by several opposition members who sought that the government should withdraw the measure and bring a fresh bill next week. "In future, you (government) should see to it that members get sufficient time to consider the amendments", Mahajan observed in the Lok Sabha after allowing consideration of the measure. As she allowed debate on the bill, she also gave members an hour to give their amendments to the government's amendments.
Earlier, the House witnessed procedural wrangles on the issue with several opposition members contending that the Bill was brought in "total contravention" of rules of business and Constitution. Saugata Roy (TMC) said the Finance Minister had come out with last minute amendments as he had made "mistakes".
"Nowadays it is late night operation and last minute thinking", he remarked criticising the functioning of the government. Raising several objections, N K Premchandran (RSP), K V Thomas (Cong) and Mohd Salim (CPI-M) wanted the Chair not to succumb to the whims of the government.
Some of them wondered how could non-taxation proposals be part of the Finance Bill as has happened in the measure with schemes concerning pension part of it. Some even complained that they got some official amendments to the Finance Bill as late as 0200 hrs today and asked how they were expected to give consideration to them in such a short time and give any amendments to them.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley sought to dismiss opposition arguments insisting that rules cannot override the Constitution. Later, the Speaker said the private members business, listed today, would not be taken up, despite it being the last day of the week with a holiday tomorrow on account of May Day. She said this business would be taken up next week or later.
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