Centre goes around Oppn to bring bill to give Aadhaar teeth

MONEY BILL Draft law will not require RS nod, where Opposition is in majority

NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to provide statutory backing to Aadhaar for transferring subsidies and benefits. Some Opposition parties objected to the government’s decision to bring it as a money bill, which would help the ruling dispensation overcome any hurdle in the Rajya Sabha where it is in a minority.

A money bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha and the speaker’s decision is final. The Rajya Sabha is required to return a money bill passed by the Lok Sabha within 14 days of receipt. Any amendment made to it by the Rajya Sabha is not binding.

The UPA introduced a similar bill in the Rajya Sabha in December 2010, but a finance-related standing committee suggested major changes to its provisions and recommended the then government bring in a new version.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley withdrew the UPA bill from the Rajya Sabha on Thursday to introduce The Aadhaar (Target Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016 in the other House. It incorporates clauses to keep personal information discreet and Aadhaar’s not being a proof of citizenship.

Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge opposed it, saying the UPA introduced a similar bill but the NDA made it a money bill to “avoid” the Rajya Sabha. He suggested that both houses got an opportunity to have their views on the bill which should also got to a standing committee.

But Jaitley argued the new bill was significantly different from The National Identification Authority of India (NIDAI) Bill, 2010. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan allowed the introduction of the bill. BJD’s Bhartruhari Mahtab objected to the legislation and sought a clarification from the minister on keeping personal information discreet and Aadhaar not being a proof of citizenship. BJD sources said the party would move an amendment to remove the clause that authorises disclosure of information in certain cases.

Saying the bill addressed those concerns, Jaitley added, “Ours is a money bill as it confines itself to government expenditure.” Parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu backed the bill, saying it would help save 20,000 crore by avoiding subsidies being taken by the undeserving.

The legislation will provide for “good governance, efficient, transparent and targeted delivery of subsidies, benefits and services, the expenditure for which is incurred from the Consolidated Fund of India, to individuals residing in India through assigning of unique identity numbers to such individuals,” a brief summary of the bill said.