Debate on Motor Bill in Rajya Sabha to resume on Monday

A debate on the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, which was listed for discussion in the Rajya Sabha today, is likely to resume on Monday after ironing out issues raised by members.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said in the House that there were different amendments on the Motor Bill by members and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has agreed to talk to them. Later an official said an all-party meeting is likely tomorrow to thrash out the issues. "Minister and members should resolve that when the debate should be resumed," Goel said agreeing with Trinamool Congress member Derek O' Brien that the Bill will be again brought up on Monday despite being listed today.

Raising a point of order just before the Question Hour, O' Brien said the "Motor Vehicles Bill listed as number 2 in the business today. The discussion is not complete. Four-five members have to speak. The minister has to reply and then there are some amendments." He said there are at least 10 political parties on this and even though the Bill is listed, there are six -seven amendments to this Bill. "The informal agreement (with the minister) which we are sharing with you here is that this Bill will only be brought up on Monday again. We agreed on that because we want to find a solution. Not before Monday," O'Brien said.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, yesterday had opposed the proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act in the Rajya Sabha, saying it would help corporates and dilute powers of state governments. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, which has already been passed by the Lok Sabha, was introduced in the Upper House in April 2017 but was referred to a select panel. After taking into account the panel's recommendation, the bill was re-introduced in Rajya Sabha. The debate on the bill remained inconclusive. The bill proposes hefty penalties for various offences pertaining to the road transport sector.