New Delhi: Taking note of the Council of
Architecture`s reservations to provisions in the Architects
(Amendment) Bill, 2010 which gives the Central Government
"uncontrolled executive power" over it, a Parliamentary panel
has recommended that its provisions be "suitably" revised.
It has recommended that the provisions be revised so
that the Central Government can give directions to the Council
only on policy matters.
In its report presented in the Rajya Sabha today, the
Parliamentary Standing Committee on HRD said that it felt
"substance" in the contention of the council.
Section 10 B of the Amendment Bill seeks to give
powers to the government to supersede the Council for a period
not exceeding two years if the body fails to comply with the
directions of the government, abuses its powers and
underperforms "persistently".
The council had said the proposed power which would be
given to the Central Government under the proposed amendment
to direct it to make or amend its regulations or revoke any
regulations would be considered as "extra-ordinary, arbitrary,
unguided and uncontrolled executive power adversely affecting
its autonomy and day to day functioning".
The committee also underlined the fact that with the
proposed power to be given under section 10 A and 10 B,
"situation is not likely to improve as far as the council is
concerned".
It said that if the council fails to comply with
certain provisions of the Act, than provisions can be
incorporated in the Act under which Commission of Inquiry can
look into the failures.
The committee in its report also said the proposed
legislation can only be considered a "short-term measure"
because there are moves for early setting up of the proposed
commission for higher education which will ultimately bring
council of architecture under its ambit.
It said that keeping in view the increased number of
foreign architects practising in the country, a mechanism can
be evolved for having mutual exchange of Indian architects
with foreign architects.
It also noted the fact that "a healthy atmosphere of
coordination between architecture education and profession is
required to be built up.
The committee would appreciate if all these aspects
are taken care of whenever a new comprehensive legislation is
brought forward".
PTI
