Home Ministry cautioned against Sixth Schedule (Amendment) Bills

New Delhi, Feb 28 (UNI) The Parliamentary Standing Committee in its 129th report today asked the Home Ministry to make a fresh assessment of ground realities all over again before going ahead with the Sixth Schedule (Amendment) Bills in both houses of Parliament.

The Committee of the Home Ministry in its observation on the question of Sixth Schedule status for the Darjeeling Hill areas of West Bengal stated that while one group strongly supported the Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2007 and emphasised for early passage of the Bills, another group vehemently opposed the bill and the grant of Sixth Schedule status to the area.

The Committee, in its 129th report placed in the Rajya Sabha, said both groups, one for the conferment of Sixth Schedule status to Darjeeling Hill areas and another against it with an overwhelming majority, claimed that there would be a law and order problem if their viewpoints were ignored.

It was suggested to the Committee that the Bills should be passed and the events that may unfold could be handled later on depending on the circumstnces. It was also suggested that instead of conferring Sixth Schedule status, the Council could be given more power and autonomy to the area and the solution should be found within the State of West Bengal.

UNI BKS SHB GC1808