Government proposes Bill to amend Trai Act

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, July 12, 2014: Amid protests, the government on Friday introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend a provision of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act that came in the way of appointment of retired IAS officer Nripendra Mishra as the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Trinamool Congress opposed the Bill saying the Government was setting a bad precedent by amending an Act to solely benefit one officer (Mishra). Such a move could undermine the independence of the regulatory body Trai. The Government, however, rejected the argument and tabled the Bill.

The Congress and other Opposition parties are also likely to block the Bill, which replaces an ordinance promulgated on May 28 last to clear the hurdles to the appointment of Mishra.

As soon as Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Communications and Information Technology, sought to table the Bill, Sougata Roy (TMC) cited Rule 72 (1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Lok Sabha, which provided for the Speaker to allow a full discussion before a Bill was introduced in the House.

“In the interest of just one retired IAS officer, who is to be the Secretary to the Prime Minister, you are taking away the independence of the telecom regulatory authority.

The next man will come and he will kowtow to the Government so that after retirement he will get another plum posting in the Government,” said Roy. Mishra was the chairman of the Trai from 2006-09. The original Act barred the chairman or member of the Trai  from taking up any job in the central or state government after the end of their tenure with the regulatory body. As this provision posed a hurdle to the appointment of Mishra as principal secretary to Modi, the BJP-led Government hurriedly promulgated an ordinance to amend the law.

The Bill to be passed in Parliament, amends the law to enable any former Trai chairman or member to take up employment with the central or state government two years after quitting the regulatory body with previous approval of the Central Government.

Prasad, who also holds the law portfolio, argued that Rule 72 (1) referred to by the TMC MP was applicable only if the motion to introduce a Bill was opposed on the ground that the Bill would initiate legislation outside the legislative competence of the House.

“The Government of India has got full powers to bring any amendment in law relating to telecom. Telecom and Communications come under the jurisdiction of Government of India,” he said.