Uproar in Rajasthan Assembly as controversial bill is tabled

NEW DELHI: The Vasundhara Raje government tabled the controversial Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) bill+ in the Rajasthan assembly on Monday.

The opposition Congress strongly opposed the bill and staged a walkout. BJP MLA Ghanshaym Tiwari, who had expressed opposition to the ordinance, walked out of the Assembly twice when he was not allowed by the Speaker to raise a point of order.

The 9th session of the 14th assembly began with greetings to President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu on their elections to the respective posts.

The Rajasthan government had last month promulgated the Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, that seeks to protect serving and former judges, magistrates and public servants in the state from being investigated for on-duty action, without its prior sanction.

It also bars the media from reporting on the allegations unless sanction is obtained.

"No magistrate shall order an investigation nor will any investigation be conducted against a person, who is or was a judge or a magistrate or a public servant," the ordinance says.

The ordinance provides 180-day immunity to the officers, and in case there is no decision on the sanction request in the stipulated time period, it will automatically be granted.

Senior lawyer AK Jain has filed a PIL in the Rajasthan high court against the ordinance.

BJP leader N Rajvi, too, told ANI that he will raise the matter of the "draconian bill" in a meet today.

PP Chaudhary, Minister of State (Law and Justice), however, called the ordinance "perfect, balanced and much needed." He said it takes into consideration the rights of the media as well as those of the individual.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot and his supporters were allegedly detained by the police while marching to Governor's House in Jaipur against the ordinance, ANI reported.

"We will continue to fight and protest this. The government wants to cover up its own corruption. We'll submit a memorandum to the President," Pilot said.

(With inputs from agencies)