Parliament Petitions committee seized of mobile phone menace

Hyderabad, Aug 20 (UNI) Senior BJP leader and MP M Venkaiah Naidu, who is heading a ten-member Parliament Committee on petitions, today said it would take a decision whether to ''impose reasonable restrictions''on use of mobile phones in public places after holding discussions with all departments concerned.

The petitioner, Gurjit Singh of Patiala, had petitioned Rajya Sabha committee on petitions, seeking the imposition of ''reasonable restrictions'' on use of mobile phones in public places and making its use during driving a non-bailable offence, attracting stringent punishment.

Mr Naidu said the decision would be taken after holding threadbare discussions with all the departments concerned, including transport authorities, educational institutions and non-governmental organisations.

Mr Naidu, who was here to receive petitions from various voluntary organisations working to resolve the problems of leprosy-afflicted people, said the Committee was examining the pros and cons of of the petition, which wanted enactment of a law prohibiting use of such phones in public places, including places of worship.

There was a need for a wider debate in the society on the use of mobile phones in public places, he added.

The petitioner had also sought a ban on mobile phones fitted with cameras to prevent its misuse against women, and also installation of jammers and decoders in educational institutions.

The Committee would tour Tirupati and Nellore, among other cities in Andhra Pradesh in the next two days before leaving for Chengalpattu in Tamil Nadu later to receive petitions from public to redress their grievences, Mr Naidu added.

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