The Budget session of Jharkhand Assembly on Thursday concluded a day ahead of schedule due to the Sarhul festival. The session saw limited government business and the introduction of few bills from treasury benches due repeated disruptions by BJP led Opposition over several issues.
Some of the bills which were passed included Itki Tuberculosis Sanatorium (Regulation of Building) (Amendment) Bill-2023, Durga Soren University Bill 2023 and Jain University Bill 2023 among others. On the last day of session, the state government withdraws six bills which included Industrial Disputes (Jharkhand Amendment) Bill 2018, Jharkhand Contract Labor Regulation and Abolition (Jharkhand Amendment) Bill 2015, Bihar Industrial National and Festive Holiday and Casual Leave Jharkhand Amendment Bill 2015, Jharkhand Shop and Establishment (Amendment) Bill 2018, Jharkhand Labor Laws (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act Bill 2018 and Factories (Jharkhand Amendment) Bill 2019.
The month-long budget session witnessed a stormy session due to BJP disputing the House on recruitment policy. Chaos reigned supreme in the Jharkhand assembly as members of the opposition demonstrated, seeking clarification from the government over the state’s employment policy.
The opposition had raised the issue on March 4. It appeared in the press that the government intends to implement the pre-2016 employment policy after the new policy was scrapped by the high court. As per the rule, the government should bring the new policy in the assembly first, but it did not, which is contempt of the House,” BJP MLA Neelkanth Singh Munda said.
Due to BJP disruption, Speaker Rabindranath Mahto had to adjourn the House on several occasions. However, on the last day of session, the Chief Minister spoke on the issue.
Targeting the opposition CM Soren said that retreat on the 1932 khatiyan-based policy was strategic. Reiterating his commitment to enact 1932 Khatiyan-based local policy again in the state, he maintained: “1932 Hamara Tha, Hai aur Rahega”.
The Opposition has been cornering the chief minister since the budget session began on the new job policy which had opened 40 percent jobs for all categories, after the Jharkhand High Court trashed his 2021 policy as “unconstitutional.” The 60 percent of jobs are already reserved for various categories of underprivileged classes.
The budget session was also disappointing for state medicos as much awaited the Medical Protection Bill of Jharkhand seeking to prevent doctors, healthcare staff and hospitals from attacks by patient parties was not passed. The bill was sent to the Select Committee after MLAs cutting across party lines opposed some of its provisions. Moreover, many pending bills which were approved by the Assembly but waiting for the Governor’s nod could not pass.
Significantly, half a dozen bills passed by the state government in the last year and a half could not take the form of law due to Raj Bhavan’s objections. Four bills got Bais’ approval only when they were passed again by the Assembly.
Source : Daily Pioneer
