Raje withdraws ‘ gag’ Bill aimed to protect corrupt public servants
The Rajasthan government has withdrawn the draconian Bill that reportedly aimed to protect corrupt public servants. Chief minister Vasundhara Raje made the announcement in the state assembly on Monday.
The Criminal Laws ( Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2017 was tabled in the previous session in October to replace an ordinance promulgated on 7 September under which sanction from an authority was required before an investigation into an offence committed by a public official. However, as the move by the Vasundhara Raje government drew widespread criticism from various quarters, the Bill was referred to select committee of the House.
“We allowed the ordinance to lapse and the Act didn’t come into force, therefore any talk of ‘ black law’ was misplaced. The government is withdrawing the Bill,” Raje said.
State Congress president Sachin Pilot has described the announcement a victory of people, Congress party and media’s struggle. However, he said that withdrawing the Bill was not enough rather the CM must initiate an investigation into corruption charges against her ministers.
“The CM had brought this ‘ black law’ to institutionalise corruption and despite strong criticism, the government was bent on implementing it by referring it to select committee. However, the defeat in the recent bypolls and constant pressure from the Congress forced the CM to withdraw it,” said Pilot who had challenged the Bill in the high court.