The Government on Wednesday was forced to defer the Real Estate (Amendment) Bill from Rajya Sabha, after the opposition insisted on referring it to the Parliamentary Standing Committee. The Congress alleged that the Bill which was brought by the UPA government has been diluted by the Modi-government and would not be in the interest of the consumers.
Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the Real Estate (Amendment) Bill should be deferred to allow Government time to have more consultations with parties and he sought “couple” of days to discuss the issue with his Cabinet colleagues.
While Naidu argued that the amendments proposed in the Bill are based on suggestions of the Standing Committee, which had representation from all political parties, and stakeholders, Congress member Jairam Ramesh alleged that the amended draft has removed a number of pro-consumer provisions of the earlier bill and “diluted” it.
“We do not have majority in this House...I am aware of it,” Naidu observed while himself suggesting deferment of the Bill. The bill, moved by the previous UPA government, has been brought by NDA government with amendments to the proposed legislation that will bring under its ambit commercial and all ongoing projects as also brokers while safeguarding consumers.
Moving the bill, Naidu flagged the urgency to bring it to “safeguard the interests of consumers” and cited a Supreme Court order to buttress the point. He referred to examples of “violations” taking place in Noida and Gurgaon and said, “it is better to have a regulator” and have some safeguards against the “unscrupulous elements”.
The Opposition members, however, kept insisting that the bill be referred to the Standing Committee. In view of this, Naidu, who is also Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said, “If members have some apprehensions, I am ready to defer for two-three days and then again come back to the House....If further consultation is needed informally, I am willing to take their (opposition) suggestions...To dispel their apprehensions.”
Accepting the request, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said that he was “deferring the bill for few days” with the consent of the House to facilitate the minister to have consultations with members and come back to the House again.