Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
India

SC questions government on lack of opposition leader

Darpan News Desk IANS, 22 Aug, 2014 11:02 AM
    The Supreme Court Friday questioned the central government over the issue of appointing a leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, and said it will give a larger interpretation to the concept of the opposition leader if the government failed to resolve the issue.
     
    Days after Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan ruled that the Congress won't get the status of the opposition, Chief Justice R.M. Lodha, Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman underlined the importance of the post.
     
    The leader of opposition conveys the voice of the people different from that of the government, said the court, raising questions regarding the absence of a recognized opposition leader in the lower house of parliament.
     
    Mahajan announced that the Congress won't be recognized as the main opposition party as it won only 44 seats, less than 10 percent of the 543 members who get elected.
     
    The judges said they will examine the provision in the Lokpal law that mandates the presence of the leader of the opposition in the selection committee as there is no recognized opposition leader in the Lok Sabha.
     
    The court said the leader of the opposition was an important component in the functioning of parliament.
     
    After the apex court's ruling, the Congress party reiterated its demand that it should be recognised as the principal opposition party in the Lok Sabha.
     
    "The Supreme Court has taken an important step. The government should reconsider its stand and ask the Lok Sabha speaker to relook into it," said party leader Manish Tewari.
     
    The government, however, maintained that the Congress did not qualify for the post.
     
    Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: "As per the constitution, a party must get 10 percent seats (for leader of opposition status).
     
    "But unfortunately it did not happen. So, they should accept it," he said.
     
    BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi added that this was not the first time the position of the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha is unoccupied.
     
    "This is the 8th time... It has happened seven times before," she said.A
     
    The apex court meanwhile said the leader of the opposition was of consequence not just in the context of the selection of Lokpal but also vis-a-vis the National Human Rights Commission and the Central Vigilance Commission.
     
    The court asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatagi to clarify two points: how the government wishes to make the Lokpal Act workable and, two, how to move forward if there is no recognized opposition leader.
     
    Chief Justice Lodha said that if government failed to resolve the issue, the court may give a larger interpretation to the term so that it may include the leader of the largest party in the opposition.
     
    The court said this in the course of hearing a PIL by NGO Common Cause, which has challenged the search committee procedure for Lokpal.
     
    Under the existing provision, anyone desirous of being selected as chairman or a member of Lokpal has to make an application to the department of personnel and training. It is this procedure that has come under fire from sections of people and activists.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Indian Maoists have links in Philippines, Europe: Government

    Indian Maoists have links in Philippines, Europe: Government
    In a revelation that adds a new dimension to the Left-wing extremism in the country, the government Tuesday said Maoists in India have "close links" with Maoist groups in the Philippines and Turkey, and even draw support from fringe organisations in countries such as Germany, France, Holland and Italy.

    Indian Maoists have links in Philippines, Europe: Government

    'Banning cross-gender massages won't stop prostitution in Goa'

    'Banning cross-gender massages won't stop prostitution in Goa'
    Banning cross-gender massages is not a sure way of preventing prostitution in the privacy of spa and salon cubicles, because of swelling gay and lesbian communities, leading spa operators in Goa claim.

    'Banning cross-gender massages won't stop prostitution in Goa'

    Indian Muslims must stand up to radical ideologies

    Indian Muslims must stand up to radical ideologies
    Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has urged the likes of Syed Imam Bukhari and Zakir Naik to go to Iraq and preach peace to ISIS. Sri Sri is not only prodding them to take the responsibility of mitigating the sufferings in Iraq but also underlining that their brand of Islam runs the risk of encouraging ISIS-type of fanaticism in India.

    Indian Muslims must stand up to radical ideologies

    Ian Thorpe 'comes out of the closet' on television

    Ian Thorpe 'comes out of the closet' on television
    In a week that saw Australia's highest-profile sporting icon, Ian Thorpe, 'come out of the closet' on television, gay marriage is back on the national agenda with Liberal Democratic senator David Leyonhjelm hoping to push the divided government to allow a 'conscience vote' on the issue.

    Ian Thorpe 'comes out of the closet' on television

    Netanyahu vows more attacks, as rocket attack kills first Israeli

    Netanyahu vows more attacks, as rocket attack kills first Israeli
    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday said his country will expand its military campaign against Gaza, as rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave caused the first Israeli civilian fatality since launch of "Operation Protective Edge" last week, officials said.

    Netanyahu vows more attacks, as rocket attack kills first Israeli

    Kejriwal's audio accusing BJP of horse-trading released

    Kejriwal's audio accusing BJP of horse-trading released
    The AAP Tuesday released a recorded audio message of party chief Arvind Kejriwal accusing the BJP of indulging in horse-trading to form the government in Delhi.

    Kejriwal's audio accusing BJP of horse-trading released