Parliament puts ‘Office of Profit’ Bill back in President’s court

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Office of Profit (OoP) Bill by an overwhelming majority, putting the onus on President APJ Abdul Kalam to give his assent to the Bill.

Lok Sabha passed it by 230-71 votes, with the opposition BJP and Trinamool Congress voting against the Bill.

The Bill that was earlier passed by the Rajya Sabha did not incorporate any changes that President Kalam had asked Parliament to review.

Neither the “retrospective clause” of the Bill nor a uniform legislation for the entire country on this issue was incorporated by the Houses, which were the concerns that President Kalam had raised.

Though the Constitution makes it obligatory for the President to give his assent to the Bill after it has been returned back to him by Parliament, speculations that he would opt for other ways is doing the rounds in the media circle.

The Opposition BJP has urged President Kalam to refer the Bill to the Supreme Court for its opinion under the Article 143 of the Constitution.

Article 143 of the Constitution grants President the power to consult the Supreme Court if at any time it appears to the President that a question of law or fact has arisen which is of such a nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court upon it.

However, the President may also go for ‘pocket-veto’, since nowhere in the Constitution a time limit has been provided for the President to give his assent to the Bill.

This ‘veto’ was earlier used by former President Giani Zail Singh and did not oblige with his assent on the “Postal Bill”.

Article Source: http://www.share.onlypunjab.com

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