Government to reintroduce land revenue Bill in Belgaum session

Despite Governor H R Bhardwaj’s strong opposition to the controversial land revenue Bill, the State government has decided to reintroduce it in its original form in the winter session of the State Legislature, scheduled to commence in Belgaum on December 5.

The Karnataka Land Revenue Amendment Bill, 2012, seeks to regularise residential houses constructed illegally on government land in rural areas in the State. The Bill was passed in June and sent to the Governor for his assent. But, the Governor had returned it after taking exception to some of its provisions.

The Governor had observed that the policy of regularisation of encroachment of government land would encourage illegal occupation of government land.

The amendment would violate principles such as rule of law, equality before law, due process, majesty of law, dignity of courts, inalienable fundamental rights and directive principles enshrined in the Constitution.

The government, however, has decided to place both the Governor’s comments and draft bill before the two Houses.

If both the Lower and the Upper Houses reject the Governor’s comments, then the Bill will be passed as it is and sent back to the Governor. If the comments are accepted, then there will be minor modifications, officials in the Parliamentary Affairs department said.

Another controversial bill to be introduced is the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Prevention Act (Amendment) Bill, 2012.

The Centre is yet to give its assent to the Bill which aims at bringing in a strict ban on the slaughter of cattle, including cows in the State.

The President had sent back the Bill asking for the word ‘cattle’ to be clearly defined. The government had decided to bring in an amendment by including ‘bull’ and ‘bullock’ in the Bill.
Another bill to be re-submitted during the session is the Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Amendment) bill, 2007.

Other Bills

Of the 16 Bills to be tabled in the House, 11 are pending bills, while two are fresh.
The Karnataka Lift, Escalator and Passenger Conveyors Bill, 2012, to be introduced, will replace the earlier 1974 Lift Act and will make it mandatory to have only registered elevator companies install and maintain elevators and escalators and ensure that safety norms are strictly adhered to.

Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2012; Karnataka State Open University (Amendment) Bill, 2012; Manipal University Bill; Arka University Bill; Karnataka Municipal Corporation (Amendment) bill; Dayanand Sagar University Bill, 2012; Vellore Technical University Bill, 2012; M S Ramaiah University Bill, 2012; Devaraj Urs University Bill, 2012; Karnataka Legislature Salaries, Pensions and Allowances (Second Amendment) Bill, 2012; Karnataka Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Bill, 2012; Karnataka Nursing and Paramedical Sciences Education (Regulation) Authority Bill, 2012

Speaker K G Bopaiah said on Friday that the Assembly would start at 11 am on December 5. The Assembly Secretariat has received 705 questions, of which 704 have been approved. There were 60 starred questions, 341 unstarred questions and 34 calling attention questions.