Communal Violence Bill with changes headed for House

The government will re-introduce the Communal Violence Bill in Parliament during the ongoing session after incorporating some changes.

The government will re-introduce the Communal Violence Bill in Parliament during the ongoing session after incorporating some changes. The Union cabinet, which met here this evening, approved reintroduction of the Bill, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Priyaranjan Dasmunshi said.

The Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, introduced in Rajya Sabha in 2005, had stirred a controversy with several states opposing provisions, including one which empowers the Centre to notifiy an area as “communaly disturbed” and deploy central forces there. The Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Home Affairs headed by BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, which cleared it with amendments last December.

The Bill had been formulated in the backdrop of the Gujarat communal violence in 2002 and is one of the promises in the UPA’s common minimum programme. It will empower the Centre to prevent communal violence and in case of incidents, provide justice and rehabilitation to the victims. With the Cabinet clearing its reintroduction, the government is keen to get approval of both Houses during this session itself.

Story continues below this ad

The standing committee had taken a close look at reservations expressed by several states and political parties. On one controversial provision, the committee had observed that “adequate safeguards” had been provided when it came to the clause vesting the Centre with power to issue directions to state governments and issue notifications on communal violence. A majority of the states and political parties, the committee contacted for views, opposed the proposal. But the committee in its report said it was for retaining this proposal in its present form to maintain the country’s secular fabric, unity and integrity.

But it was against another important provision of the Bill that empower the Centre to transfer a case from one High Court to another, saying this power should remain with the judiciary. The committee, however, disagreed with Clause 24 of the Bill, which provides that the state government shall establish one or more special courts for the trial of scheduled offences committed during the period of disturbance.