Ruckus in Rajasthan assembly over immunity bill

Rajasthan state assembly was adjourned till Tuesday following the protest by Congress leaders over immunity bill. The government tabled a controversial ordinance which protects judges and bureaucrats from probe without prior sanction.

The Ordinance which prohibits investigations into allegations against current and former judges, magistrates and civil servants without previous permission, was put into effect on September 7.

The ordinance had also sought to bar the media from reporting on accusations against the judges and bureaucrats till the sanction to proceed with the probe is obtained.

"No magistrate shall order an investigation nor will any investigation be conducted against a person, who is or was a judge or a magistrate or a public servant," read the ordinance which provided 180-day immunity to the judges and officers.

Meanwhile, senior lawyer AK Jain filed a PIL in the Rajasthan High Court against the Ordinance. The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has also condemned the Vasundhara Raje government for bringing in the ordinance which amends the CrPC and IPC and introduces sections and provisos to "gag the media and clips the powers of the magistrate to order investigation, investigate or take cognisance of complaints against public servants including judges and magistrates".

Defending the government, Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria had on Sunday told that there was no provision in the ordinance which will weaken action against corrupt officers.

Opposition to the bill has also come from within the BJP with party leader Ghanshyam Tiwari saying it is "aimed to strangulate democracy" in the state.

OneIndia News