Lok Sabha passes Assam Rifles Bill by voice vote

New Delhi, Aug 3 (UNI) The Lok Sabha today passed by voice vote the Assam Rifles Bill, 2006, to consolidate and amend the law relating to the governance of the Assam Rifles, engaged in Counter-insurgency operations and protection of the country's borders.

The Bill has already been passed by the Upper House.

The legislaiton is aimed at ensuring the security of the borders of the country, to carry out counter-insurgency operations for ensuring the security in specified areas and to act in aid of civil authorities for the maintenance of the law and order and for matters connected therewith.

Earlier, Minister of State for Home Affairs S Raghupati, while replying to certain apprehensions about the Bill, assured that a lot of welfare measures and sufficient compensation had been provided in the Bill.

The Minister agreed with the members who said the trial should be fair. ''The matter will be looked into by many judges and not one even in the petty matters.'' Serious type of cases have to be confirmed by the Home Minister. Besides, only experts of law are made judges.

The Minister said even an appellate court could be approached if the necessity arose. ''Proper precautions have been taken.'' Mr Radhakrishnan said there were a ''good number'' of defects in the Bill. The final decision would have to be conformed by the High Court. The awarding of death setence by the ''judicial court'' was ''highly defective and undemocratic'', he said.

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