New Delhi: In a bid to clear legal hurdles for Nripendra Mishra’s appointment as principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union government introduced the Telecom Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha on Friday amid strong protests form the Opposition .
Introducing the Bill, Union telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad claimed it seeks to bring parity among Trai, the Competition Commiss-ion and the Pension Regulatory Authority.
But Trinamul MP Saugata Roy raised a point of order, claiming the Bill was introduced to benefit just one individual, and it set a bad precedent for people holding high offices.
The Bill was, however, introduced despite pro-tests. The Centre had earlier promulgated an Ordinance to let Mr Mishra assume office at the PMO. Section 5(8) of the Act bars a Trai chairman from taking a government position or any job after retirement.
The Congress joined Trinamul MPs in protesting against the move. The NDA may face a tough time over the issue in the Rajya Sabha where it doesn’t have a majority.
The Aam Aadmi Party stated that it would oppose the Bill. The party claimed that the Centre move would undermine the role of regulators. “The law cannot be changed for making an otherwise ineligible individual to take up a particular post, by first abusing the emergency powers of the government by bringing an ordinance, and then wasting the time of Parliament to suit the whims and fancies of an individual considered dear to the ruling establishment,” the AAP stated.
