Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Dissolving The National Commission For Safai Karamcharis, 1993 By The ... on 22 August, 2000
Title: Regarding dissolving the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, 1993 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment before the date of expiry of the Commission SARDAR BUTA SINGH : Mr. Speaker, Sir, I bring to your kind notice an act of blatant arrogance by the Government of India in dissolving a National Commission for Safai Karamcharis which was established by an Act of Parliament in the year 1993 in this very House. You had lent your support. This Act had asked the Government to appoint a Commission for Safai Karamcharis who are leading a sub-standard and inhuman life in all the towns and villages of this country. Unfortunately, the life of the Commission is still there. It has to go up to the year 2002. The Government of India’s own Notification dated 17th June, 1997 says this and I read it. The Ministry of Welfare’s Notification published in the Extraordinary issue of Gazette of India Part II Section 3 says that the National Commission for Safai Karamchari Act 1993 has been extended till March 2002.
But this particular Minister* has dissolved this Commission without coming to this Parliament. She has given an interview. A very funny part of the interview is this.… (Interruptions) The Minister concerned is Shrimati Maneka Gandhi, the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment. She has given an interview to The Observer. I will quote just two lines from her interview. You look at the language she has used. She says that its term itself has expired and she will not re-organise the Commission.
____________________________________________________________ * Expunged as ordered by the chair.
MR. SPEAKER: Sardar Buta Singh, this is an important issue. Even though you have not given a notice, I allowed you because you are a senior Member. He has not given any notice also.
… (Interruptions)
SARDAR BUTA SINGH : This is an act of arrogance and misuse of their power. … (Interruptions) I ask the Government specially the hon. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. Can they flout the standard of parliamentary practice?… (Interruptions)
SHRI MADHAVRAO SCINDIA (GUNA): The Commission has been set up by Parliament. How can they dissolve it?… (Interruptions)
MAJ. GEN. (RETD.) B.C. KHANDURI (GARHWAL):It is forming part of the record of the House. He did not bother to give a notice. Now, he is allowed to speak.… (Interruptions)
SARDAR BUTA SINGH : Its life is till 2002. … (Interruptions) It is an Act of Parliament. … (Interruptions) How can it be dissolved? … (Interruptions) How can she dissolve the Commission?
मेजर जनरल (सेवानिवृत्त) भुवन चन्द्र खण्डूरी (गढ़वाल) : आपने नोटिस नहीं दिया है। आपके पास नोटिस देने का टाइम नहीं है और आप बोल रहे हैं। …( व्यवधान)
सरदार बूटा सिंह (जालौर) : हमने नोटिस दिया है। नोटिस आपको नहीं, स्पीकर को देना होता है।
…( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: Sardar Buta Singh, you have not given any notice. Please understand that.
Even then, I allowed him.
पेट्रोलियम और प्राकृतिक गैस मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री तथा संसदीय कार्य मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री संतोष कुमार गंगवार): माननीय अध्यक्ष महोदय, माननीय बूटा सिंह जी इस सदन के वरिष्ठ सदस्य हैं। मैं समझता हूं कि कोई भी बात कहने से पहले उन्हें सोचना चाहिए। यदि वे ऐसा कोई विषय उठाना चाहते हैं, तो उन्हें इस बारे में पहले लिखकर देना चाहिए था। माननीय सदस्य ने जो विषय उठाया है, उसे मैं संबंधित मंत्री महोदय के संज्ञान में लाऊंगा, लेकिन जैसा वे कह रहे हैं, वैसा नहीं है। यह सरकार दलित और पिछड़े वर्गों के लिए बहुत चिन्तित है। हमारी सरकार कोई भी ऐसा काम नहीं करेगी जो इन वर्गों के विरुद्ध जाता हो और जैसा वे कह रहे हैं वैसा कोई काम इस सरकार ने नहीं किया है।…( व्यवधान)
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Mudragada Padmanabham.
SHRI MADHAVRAO SCINDIA : Sir, we want justice to be done to the issue.
MR. SPEAKER: Shri Scindia, today also we are discussing the SC/ST Constitution (Amendment) Bill. At that time also you can take it up.
… (Interruptions)
SARDAR BUTA SINGH : This is not about the Constitution (Amendment) Bill. This is a different matter. … (Interruptions)
SHRI MADHAVRAO SCINDIA : This is a violation of the rights of the authority of Parliament. Parliament has constituted a Committee. … (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs has already replied.
Mr. Minister, are you going to add anything from the Government’s side?
श्री संतोष कुमार गंगवार : अध्यक्ष महोदय, मैंने पहले ही कह दिया है कि जो माननीय सदस्य ने कहा है, उसे मैं संबंधित मंत्री महोदय के संज्ञान में लाऊंगा और यदि कोई बात होगी, तो वे इस बारे में बताएंगे।
… (Interruptions)
MR. SPEAKER: Let me know what is there. You have raised the matter; the Parliamentary Affairs Minister has given the reply. Let us wait.