Office of Profict Bill passed in the special session

Belgaum, Sep 28 (UNI) The Karnataka State Assembly has passed the Karnataka Legislature (prevention of disqualification) (Amendment) Bill popularly known as Office of Profit bill, which was returned by the Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi earlier, giving retrospective effect amidst the absence of the members of the opposition parties in the assembly with minor changes here today.

The Karnataka Home and parliamentary Affairs Minister M P Prakash presented the bill amidst strong protest from the Congress party members who were insisting to refer the same to the select committee of the legislators and continue with the discussion on the drought and Dr Nanjundappa Committee report on removing regional imbalance.

The Congress members also staged walk out from the house when their appeal was rejected by the Home Minister.

Speaking on the subject Mr M P Prakash said that the bill which was returned from the Karnataka Governor, who had raised three observation after passed by both the houses of the Karnataka Legislature, was being re-introducing to address the consequences of disqualification of members of legislature on the ground of their holding an office of profit results in unnecessary expenditure and unforeseen financial burdon upon the state exchequer. He also defended for giving retrospective effect to the Jataka Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) Act 1956. The proposed amendment of the bill not only assist the government in avoiding unforeseen expenditures but also will help in having the rich experience of the peoples' representatives in managing the affairs of different boards and corporations.

However participating in the debate the JD(U) member J C Madhuswamy has argued that the intention of the state government to give retrospective effect to the bill enacted in 1956 may not stand the scrutiny of the judiciary and appealed Mr Prakash to give prospective effect. Kannada Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj who also spoke on the subject demanded the state government about the purpose behind in bringing the bill which was returned by the Governor and expressed apprehension that it was being tabled only to ensure the stability of the coalition government by making ruling legislators as chairmen of various corporations and boards. Both the legislators also staged walk out in protest against the state government's move on the issue.

Later speaking on the subject Mr Prakash has said that the Congress party should be blamed for creating controversy over the office of profit bill following its vindictive attitude shown against Rajya Saba Member Jaya Bachan who was also appointed by the Uttar Pradesh State government as the Chairperson of the U.P Film Development Corporation. The move of the congress leaders boomeranged against them which led to bringing of office of profit bill at the center which was also returned by the President before giving his assent after it was re introduced in parliament in the same fashion and sent back to him.

The bill was passed after invoking the names of posts and offices which dose not attract the disqualification of the membership of under the Karnataka Legislature (prevention of Disqualification) Act 1956. The bill was passed in the absence of all the opposition members when put to vote which was declared adopted after voice vote.

The Karnataka assembly also passed the Karnataka molasses regulation bill 2004 seeking to regulate the production, supply and distribution of molasses in the state of Karnataka which was earlier returned by the President of India to reconsider the section 23, sub-section (2) of the bill which was not in commensurate with the provision of the IPC section 420 as for as the duration of imprisonment was concerned.

The Karnataka assembly also passed the Karnataka Land Revenue (Amendment) bill 2006 extending the the term of the land grand committees constituted to regularize the unauthorized cultivation of land across the state for two more years. The Revenue minister Jagadish Shettar, who moved the amendment bill had stated that the proposed amendment would help the land-grant committees to clear over one lake applications seeking clearance for regularization of unauthorized cultivation in the state. The Congress members Mallikarjuna Kharge, Ramesh Kumar, BJP's Araga Jnanendra and others also participated in the discussion. The bill was put to voice vote and the deputy speaker N Y Gopalakrishna who was in the chair declared passing of the bill and adjourned the house to reassembly 0930 hours tomorrow.

UNI