War of words between Arun Jaitley and KTS Tulsi over clubbing of two bills

 Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed a clash among lawyer-members over rules as the government wanted two bills of the Law Ministry to be taken up together for discussion, which was strongly resisted by the opposition.

As tempers ran high, Leader of House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley accused nominated member KTS Tulsi of "instigating" members to delay the pasage of the Delhi High Court (Anmendment) Bill but was forced to withdraw the remarks later after opposition protested. The row began after Law Minister D V Sadanand Gowda introduced the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commecial Appellate Division of High Courts Bill and suggested that this new bill be taken up together with the Delhi High Court (Anmendment) Bill, which was deferred last week.

Objecting to it, Tulsi, a senior lawyer, said that "clubbing of the two is unnecessary and it will perpetuate the woes of the litigants unnecessarily." Contending that the two bills have nothing to do with each other, he said the government, by doing so, wants to give from one hand and take away from the other. Tulsi refused to accept the Law Minister's argument that a quick disposal of the Delhi High Court Bill is required as people of the Delhi Bar Association are going on strike.

Jaitley intervened to allege that Tulsi was "instigating" members in the House to delay the bill. "The whole effort of Tulsi is to delay the bill...We are not going to fall prey to it. Of course you are trying to delay the bill," he said.
Tulsi reacted strongly to it, saying, "The Leader of the House has accused me of instigating. When did I instigate? Whom did I instigate?" Some Congress members including Viplove Thakur joined Tulsi in protesting against Jaitley's remarks. Thakur said every member is free to speak his or her mind on the issue.

At this, Jaitley said he does not want this to become an issue and hence "I withdraw what I said". He, however, insisted that both the bills have to be taken together", failing which there will be trouble outside. Seeking to cool tempers, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu quipped that "the problem with this House is that too many advocates are here." Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked the Minister to club the two bills when these are moved for consideration and passage so that a decision can be taken at that time by the House.

The bill providing for increase in the pecuniary jurisdiction of Delhi High Court was deferred in Rajya Sabha recently after some members had insisted that the measure be taken up with other pending legislation on creation of commercial divisions in High Courts. Gowda had then conceded to the demands made by a member each of JD(U) and BJP that the Delhi High Court (Amendment) Bill be deferred and taken up along with another pending bill which seeks to create commercial divisions in High Courts to decide on high value commercial disputes.

Tulsi had taregeted the government on that day also. "Government does not know whether it is going right or left. It is running away from responsibility. Why should they not think before getting the bill in the list of business, he had then said