SAYS PASSING SIX LAWS ON THE LAST WORKING DAY WITHOUT ADEQUATE DISCUSSION IS A “CRUEL JOKE WITH THE FUTURE OF PUNJAB
Face2News/Chandigarh
Senior Congress MLA from Bholath, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, today urged the Punjab Government and Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha to extend the ongoing Assembly session by at least a few more days so that the six new Bills proposed for consideration can be properly examined and debated.
Khaira said that according to the official legislative business, as many as six Bills have been placed before the House in the closing stages of the session, including Bills relating to three Digital Universities, GST, outsourced personnel/contractual engagement and common infrastructure. (Punjab Vidhan Sabha)
“How can six new laws, having far-reaching implications for Punjab, be properly scrutinised, debated and passed on the last working day of the session? This is not meaningful parliamentary democracy. The government must give legislators adequate time to study the Bills, consult stakeholders and move amendments in the larger public interest,” Khaira said.
He questioned the wisdom of bringing such important legislation at the eleventh hour when MLAs have barely any opportunity to examine the fine print, understand its implications or seek clarifications from the concerned departments.
“The Vidhan Sabha is not a rubber stamp for the Cabinet. The purpose of the legislature is to scrutinise legislation clause-by-clause, debate its merits and demerits and protect the interests of the people of Punjab. Rushing six Bills through the House simply because tomorrow is the last working day amounts to reducing the legislative process to a mere formality,” Khaira said.
Khaira said the AAP government should remember that laws are not temporary political announcements. Once enacted, they affect Punjab’s institutions, economy, employees, students, businesses and citizens for years to come.
He particularly questioned the urgency behind introducing three separate Digital University Bills along with other major legislative proposals at the fag end of the session, saying that the government must explain why these matters could not have been brought before the House earlier to allow adequate discussion. (Punjab Vidhan Sabha)
“Punjab has already suffered enormously because of poorly conceived and hurried decisions. The future of Punjab cannot be legislated through a ticking clock. If the government genuinely believes these Bills are in Punjab’s interest, it should have no hesitation in extending the session and allowing a full and meaningful debate,” Khaira said.
He appealed to Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan to uphold the dignity and supremacy of the legislature by allowing sufficient time for discussion rather than permitting important Bills to be rushed through merely to complete the government’s legislative agenda.
“I appeal to the government and the Speaker: extend the session. Give MLAs time to read, understand, debate and amend these Bills. Passing six new laws in haste on the last day is nothing but a cruel joke with the future of Punjab.” Khaira said.
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