Guj HC issues notices to Centre, State Govt on GujCOC Bill

Ahmedabad, Dec 1 (UNI) In response to a PIL filed by city-based lawyer Tushar Mehta, the Gujarat High Court today issued show-cause notices to Central and state governments for delaying the clearance of the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime 2003 (GujCOC-2003) Bill by the Centre.

In its order, a High Court Bench comprising Chief Justice Y R Meena and Justice Anant S Dave - issued show-cause notices to Union Home Ministry, Chief Secretary and Home Secretary of Gujarat government over the inordinate delay in placing the Bill before the President.

In his PIL, Mr Mehta has sought the cause for the delay by the Centre in producing the GujCOC-2003 Bill before the President. He said the Bill was drafted on the lines of similar laws existing in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Delhi for controlling organised crime.

Though the Bill was cleared by the Gujarat Legislative Assembly on June 19, 2004, after the removal of its three clauses - No 14 to 16 - as asked by the President, it has not been sent back to him by the Centre.

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