Parliament adopts Office of Profit Bill

New Delhi, July 31 (UNI) The Lok Sabha today passed the Office of Profit Bill, exempting 55 posts from the purview of office of profit by a majority of 230 votes in favour and 71 votes against it.

With the Rajya Sabha having already passed the Bill on July 27, Parliament has accorded its approval of the Bill, which was returned to Parliament for reconsideration by the President.

All amendments moved by the Opposition were negated by the House.

Earlier, the Deputy Speaker Charnjit Singh Atwal declared the Bill by voice vote, but his decision was challenged by Ms Mamta Banerjee (TMC) demanding a division.

Leader of the Opposition L K Advani expressed his apprehension that the Bill might be struck down by the Supreme Court and appealed to the Government to reconsider the Bill before referring it back to the President. He said the record of the Government in regard to some Bills had been "unenviable" and cited in this context the Andhra Pradesh Reservation Bill, IMDT Act and the action against the AIIMS Director which he said had attracted adverse jugement from the Supreme Court.

''Take more time, let us sit together. We can take cognizance of the President's views,'' Mr Advani said, adding the Bill could have been properly discussed in the two months time since the Bill was returned to Parliament, but this was not done.

Referring to Mr Gurudas Dasgupta's remark that the Bill was necessary to stop the gamble of power, Mr Advani said the Government in order to save itself could get passed anything from Parliament."I don't agree with that''. He said it was for the first time that the Lok Sabha was recosidering its own Bill passed by it earlier.

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