Bill on eviction of unauthorized occupants from govt premises passed

New Delhi: Parliament on Tuesday passed a bill which will make it easier for the Delhi Metro and certain other government companies to evict unauthorized occupants from their premises, among other things.

The public premises (eviction of unauthorised occupants) amendment bill, 2014, already approved by the Lok Sabha during the winter session of Parliament last year, was passed in the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote. The law aims to empower the Delhi Metro Rail Corp., other public transport companies of Delhi government, New Delhi Municipal Council and major port trusts to get their properties and premises evicted of unauthorized companies in a speedy manner.

The passage of the measure, however, saw a procedural wrangle raised by Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), member P. Rajeeve, who was supported by Congress leaders K. Rahman Khan and Anand Sharma. Moving the bill, urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said, “Three amendments were brought in 1980, 1984 and 1994. The fourth amendment that we are moving is for the speedy eviction of unauthorized occupation for the purpose of developing public infrastructure only.”

As the minister moved the bill, Rajeeve of the CPI(M) said the debate cannot take place as the government has inserted a new clause which the parliamentary standing committee has not dealt with. “This is a new clause. That’s why I submitted a notice. It should be considered. This notice is there to ensure the basic principles of democracy... Now the government which has majority in the Lok Sabha is sending bills without referring to the parliamentary standing committee,” Rajeeve said.

Deputy chairman P.J. Kurien said, “Once a motion for consideration of the bill is moved, a motion for the select committee should come as an amendment. Now, the bill is already moved. What you are bringing forward is anyway an amendment for which I need one-day notice.” But Rajeeve did not yield to the chair and raised a point of order. Supporting Rajeeve’s notice, Congress deputy leader Anand Sharma said, “I think there is grey area. More clarification is required for the benefit of members. The bill is not exactly what it was earlier.”