Cong, Left want select panel view on repealing ‘obsolete’ laws

On a day the select committee on the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill tabled its report in Rajya Sabha, the Congress and the Left on Wednesday got together to demand that another Bill — Repealing and Amending Bill, 2014 — be sent to a select committee.

The Bill, aimed at repealing certain enactments that have become redundant and amending certain others was listed for consideration but could not be taken up due to paucity of time. When Deputy Chairman P J Kurien announced that the Bill would be taken for debate Thursday, Congress and Left members said they want it to be referred to a select committee.

“We have objections to the way the Bill was listed… We are going to give a notice to refer it to a committee,” Anand Sharma, deputy leader of Congress in the House, said. He added: “Since it has not been referred to the Standing Committee and passed in Lok Sabha without it, it must go to a Select Committee.” Sharma was backed by Left MPs who said they will issue a notice Thursday.