The fate of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Rajya Sabha seems to be hanging in the balance with the all-party meeting on Thursday convened to sort out the issues failed to come up with a resolution.
All the parties in the Rajya Sabha will now give their objections on the proposed Bill in writing before a decision can be taken and thereafter if any objections continue the Bill will be sent to the Select Committee as has been demanded by the Opposition members. The Bill to amend the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 aims at bringing radical reforms in the transport sector.
Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has been making efforts to ensure the Bill is passed before the Monsoon session ends on August 11. The parties will submit their views to Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien by Monday. It was on Gadkari’s initiative that the all-party meeting of the Upper House members was convened. Gadkari wanted to allay all apprehensions of the MPs regarding the bill, sources said. The Minister said that he is ready to accept suggestions from all political parties on the Bill as “it is not a political agenda, and his Ministry is looking to transform the sector where about 30 per cent licenses are bogus”.
The Opposition parties have been alleging that the provisions in the bill are too harsh and need a relook, for which it should be referred to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha.
“It was decided in the meeting that all parties will give their objections and amendments in writing to the Deputy Chairman by Monday. These will be examined by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and a written reply will be submitted to the Deputy Chairman,” Gadkari said outside the Parliament.
Subsequently, another all-party meeting will be held and if matters are not resolved even after this, then the Deputy Chairman may decide to refer it to the Select Committee. “In the interest of the people there is an imperative need to bring the Act expeditiously as India accounts for about five lakh accidents per annum. Any delay will lead to unnecessary and preventable loss of lives,” said Gadkari.
The bill was passed by the lok Sabha last year but got stuck in the Rajya Sabha where the Opposition demanded that it be sent to the Select Committee of the House for proper scrutiny.