New Delhi: The Central government has decided to re-promulgate the contentious Land Ordinance for the third time.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meet presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Second Amendment Bill, 2015) has been referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee of both the Houses of Parliament under the chairmanship of BJP MP from West Bengal SS Ahluwalia.
The 20-member panel include members from the BJP, Congress, Biju Janata Dal, Telugu Desam Party, AIADMK, Communist Party of India-Marxist, Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena, Lok Janshakti Party, Telangana Rashtra Samithi and YSR Congress Party. The joint committee will have 10 members from the Rajya Sabha and is expected to give its report by the first day of Monsoon Session pf the Parliament.
The Lower Lok Sabha had passed the Bill on March 10, 2015. However, the government did not bring it to the Rajya Sabha, where it is in minority.
While bringing the first Ordinance last December, the government had said its decision to amend the Act was to bring under its purview 13 central legislations, including those relating to defence and national security.
According to the Ordinance, provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 will be applicable for the 13 existing central pieces of legislation including the Coal Bearing Areas Acquisition and Development Act, 1957, the National Highways Act, 1956 and the Land Acquisition (Mines) Act, 1885.
Last time it was on April 3 when the government re-promulgated this Ordinance.
