New Delhi: With numbers stacked against
government in Rajya Sabha for passage of Lokpal Bill, Team
Anna member Kiran Bedi on Wednesday said the legislation appeared
headed for a joint session of Parliament as the Upper House
may pass a version different from the one passed in Lok Sabha.
"It looks like we will have two different bills passed in
two houses. Is Lokpal Bill heading towards a joint session?
Result is still unpredictable," Bedi said.
If different versions of the bill are passed and one of
the Houses refuses to accept the amendment by the other,
the President can summon a joint session of the two houses
which is presided over by Lok Sabha Speaker. The bill can be
passed by simple majority.
Till now, three bills -- Dowry Prohibition Act (1961),
Banking Service Commission Repeal Bill (1978) and Prevention
of Terrorist Activities Act (2002) -- have been passed in
joint sessions.
The Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011 was passed by a
voice vote late last night after government moved ten official
amendments taking into account the demands raised by
Opposition parties and allies.
In 245-member Rajya Sabha, the government side does not
have the requisite number to get the bill passed.
Bedi also expressed hope that the BJP will introduce the
key amendment of CBI's administrative control out of
government.
On conferring Constitutional status for Lokpal, which
failed to get the requisite two-third majority in Lok Sabha,
she said it was a "deliberate diversionary tactic" by
Congress.
"Congress knew it did not have the numbers," she
claimed.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, December 28, 2011, 10:22