Gag ordinance may be tabled in House today

An ordinance seeking to shield public servants from prosecution for on-duty action without prior sanction is likely to be tabled in the ninth assembly session that begins on Monday.

The assembly will be in session for three-four days and may witness uproar as the opposition is all set to raise farmers’ complete loan waiver issue.

Other bills likely to be tabled during the session are Criminal laws (Rajasthan amendment) 2017, Rajasthan legislative assembly members (prevention of disqualification) 2017 and Rajasthan land revenue amendment and validation 2017.

A confrontation between the ruling BJP and the opposition the Congress is expected if the government tables the Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 in the house.

The ordinance, brought on September 6 and published in the gazette the next day, bars courts from taking up private complaints against public servants, such as serving and former judges, lawmakers, ministers and officials, without the government’s sanction.

It also seeks to bar the media from reporting on accusations till the sanction to proceed with the probe was obtained.

The Congress on Saturday said the ordinance would institutionalise corruption. “The intent of the government is blatantly clear; they are trying to institutionalise corruption and intimidating anyone who questions government,” said Sachin Pilot, Congress Rajasthan unit chief.

“...It is a draconian law and we will oppose it within and outside the assembly.”

The government, however, defended the ordinance. “We have brought the ordinance to shield government servants from unnecessary harassment and false allegations. Sometimes people file false cases to defame public officials and prevent them from doing their work,” parliamentary affairs minister Rajendra Rathore said.

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