The State Government on Thursday had to face tough times in the House over a Bill proposing to amend the Jharkhand Education Tribunal (JET) Act.
The legislation though finally sent to the Select Committee, prompted a lot of drama played out on the floor of the Assembly.
The scene was unprecedented when Speaker Dinesh Oraon was 'forced' to read out an amendment presented by Congress MlA Patralekh Badal as many as four times as he himself was not looking fully convinced with the 'Noes' call from the treasury bench, a prerequisite to defeat any motion coming from the Opposition members.
Smelling foul, the Opposition fanned it as the Government does not possess desired support, not even from its own MlAs in the House. The amendment was about inclusion of concerned legislators of the area in the committees which are to come up to decide fee hike of the private schools. Since most of the MlAs irrespective of party wanted their say in the committee, not many were favouring defeat of the amendment motion.
Moreover, HRD Minister Neera Yadav tried her best to defend exclusion of the MlAs from the committee. "There are so many private schools in a constituency and it would not be possible for the legislators to attend the meetings. That is why we did not keep them along with guardians and others," she explained.
But the tightlipped ruling MlAs were enough for the Opposition of cash in. "You should conduct voting on this matter. The Government has lost faith of the House," leader of Opposition Hemant Soren was heard requesting the Speaker amid high drama. After a long standoff, the Speaker finally ruled to send the Bill to the Select Committee of the Assembly which would present its recommendations in 15 days.
launching a scathing attack outside, JVM member Pradeep Yadav sought resignation from Chief Minister Raghubar Das. "The manner in which the Chief Minister was seen pressurising his MlAs to say 'No' to the amendment motion and even then none of the MlA stood up for him, he should morally resign from his position. He has lost his grounds as well as confidence of the House," said Yadav.
later, the Minister replying to the searching questions from the reporters said the Government did not have any problem inducting the MlAs. "The committee for fee hike was rightly selected. We do not have problem in keeping the legislators there but they would have to devote time. Sending the Bill to the standing committee is not an embarrassment for the Government," said Neera Yadav.
The turn of events came as a booster for the Opposition that unanimously kept raising the Bakoria "fake" encounter case seeking CBI or judicial probe into it, recalling the domicile policy of the Government and other old issues. Two Adjournment Motions-one for probing the encounter and another from Congress' Nirmala Devi related to the Badkagaon incident-were declined by the Speaker.
Continuous interruptions brought the House to adjournments three times on the day, washing out all the scheduled business. Altogether this also saw a brief spat between the Chief Minister and the loP.
looking annoyed over repeated disturbances the CM heard saying, "This is the act against poor people of the State. The Opposition has made the House ludicrous" and Hemant Soren quick retorting, "Instead you have reduced the State to a laughing stock."
level of din forced the Speaker to resort to what he has been doing continuously for last so many Sessions, i.e. passing the Bills in a huff. legislations relating to Sports University, compulsory marriage registration, court fee along with the 2nd Supplementary worth Rs 2761.42 crore got assent of the House without debate of any kind.