THURSDAY, THE 10TH DECEMBER, 1998 (The Rajya Sabha met in the Parliament House at 11.00 a.m.) 1. REFERENCE TO 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS The Chairman made the following reference:- "This day, the 10th December, 1998, marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Fifty years ago, for the first time, the international community got together and agreed on a framework for the enjoyment of human rights by every human being on this globe. Defining "a common standard of achievement for all people and all natinns", the Universal Declaration includes a preamble and thirty articles establishing fundamental human rights - civil, political, social, economic and cultural which should be enjoyed by humanity. Today, we remember the concepts of universality and indivisibility of fundamental rights. Human rights are still at times violated and enlightened public opinion condemns all such acts of violation. The 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is therefore, an excellent opportunity to remember the ideals contained in it and to reflect on them and their application in contemporary human society. India has particular reasons to be proud of its association with the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We recall with pride the contribution of a member of the Constituent Assembly of India, Dr. Hansa Mehta, in the Drafting Committee of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. From time immemorial, our society has placed the highest value on rights of the individual as evidenced in India scriptures and Classics. Respect for human dignity and fundamental rights is deeply embedded in our Constitution. Our legislative measures, institutional mechanisms, administrative actions and judicial pronouncements over the last fifty year have reinforced our commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights. On this occasion, we rededicate ourselves to our commitment to these ideals and principles." 2. PAPERS LAID ON THE TABLE Shri Kadambur M. R. Janarthanan (Minister of State in the Ministries of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Finance) laid on the Table:- I. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers, under sub-section (1) of section 619A of the Companies Act, 1956:-
(i) (a) Twentieth Annual Report and Accounts of the Semiconductor Complex Limited, S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab, for the year 1997-98, together with the Auditors' Report on the Accounts and the comments of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India thereon. (b) Review by Government on the working of the above Company. II. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers:- (i) Annual Report and Accounts of the Central Civil Services Cultural and Sports Board, New Delhi, the year 1997-98, together with the Auditors' Report on the Accounts. (ii) Statement by Government accepting the above Report. ; ÉÒ ÉÖJiÉÉ ú xéeò ÉÒ ( ºÉÚSÉxÉÉ +Éè ú ɺÉÉ úhé ÉÆjÉÉ±ÉªÉ Éå úévªé ÉÆjÉÒ ) xéä ÊxÉ xéê±éêjéié {ÉjÉÉå EòÒ BEò-BEò ÉÊiÉ ( +ÆOÉäVÉÒ iéléé ʽþxnùÒ Éå ) ºÉ ÉÉ {É]õ±É {É ú újéò :- ;( Eò ) 1997-98 Eäò ɹÉÇ Eäò ʱÉB <ÆÊb ªÉxÉ <ƺ]õÒ]õ Ú]õ +Éì ò ÉÉºÉ Eò ªÉÚÊxÉEäò ÉxÉ xé<ç Ênù±±ÉÒ EòÉ ÉÉ̹ÉEò ÉÊiÉ ÉänùxÉ +Éè ú ±ÉäJÉä, ±ÉäJÉÉ+Éå {É ú ;±ÉäJÉÉ{É úòiéeòéå Eäò ÉÊiÉ ÉänùxÉ ºÉʽþiÉ * ;( JÉ ) ={ɪÉÖHÇò <ƺ]õÒ]õ Ú]õ Eäò EòɪÉÇEò úhé EòÒ ºÉ úeòé ú uùé úé ºÉ ÉÒIÉÉ * ; ÉÒ Eò ÉÒxpù {ÉÖ úeòéªéºlé ( ºÉÆSÉÉ ú ÉÆjÉÉ±ÉªÉ Éå úévªé ÉÆjÉÒ ) xéä ºÉ ÉÉ {É]õ±É {É ú ÊxÉ xéê±éêjéié {ÉjÉ újéä:- ; i. ÉÉ úiéòªé iéé ú +ÊvÉÊxÉªÉ É, 1885 EòÒ véé úé 7 EòÒ ={É-vÉÉ úé (5) Eäò +véòxé ÉÉ úiéòªé ÉäiÉ ú ]äõ±éòoéé òò ( ÉÉÊhÉÎVªÉEò äúêb ªÉÉä +É{É äú]õ ú É ÉÒhÉiÉÉ É ÉÉhÉ {ÉjÉ +Éè ú Ê É É ºÉ ÉÖpùÒ-Ê É{ÉÊkÉ iéléé ºÉÖ úiéé ÉhÉɱÉÒ ÉSÉɱÉxÉ +xéö YÉÎ{iÉ ) ÊxÉªÉ É, 1997 EòÉä ÉEòÉÊ ÉiÉ Eò úxéä ÉɱÉÒ ºÉÆSÉÉ ú ÉÆjÉÉ±ÉªÉ EòÒ +ÊvɺÉÚSÉxÉÉ ºÉÉ0 EòÉ0 ÊxÉ0 133, ËnùxÉÉEò 6 VÉÖ±ÉÉ<Ç, 1998 EòÒ BEò ÉÊiÉ ( +OÉäVÉÒ iéléé ʽþxnùÒ Éå ) * ; ii. ÉÉ úiéòªé iéé ú +ÊvÉÊxÉªÉ É, 1998 EòÒ véé úé 7 Eäò +véòxé 31 +MɺiÉ, 1998 ºÉä É ÉÉ ÉÒ EÖòUô b ÉEò ºÉä ÉÉ+Éå EòÒ nù úéå Éå ºÉÆ ÉÉävÉxÉ ºÉä ºÉÆ ÉÊvÉiÉ ÉÉ úiéòªé b ÉEòvÉ ú ( SÉÉèlÉÉ ºÉÆ ÉÉävÉxÉ ) ÊxÉªÉ É, 1998 EòÉä ÉEòÉÊ ÉiÉ Eò úxéä ÉɱÉÒ ºÉÆSÉÉ ú ÉÆjÉÉ±ÉªÉ EòÒ +ÊvɺÉÚSÉxÉÉ ºÉÉ0 EòÉ0 ÊxÉ0 503 ( + ) ÊnùxÉÉÆEò 19 +MɺiÉ, 1998 EòÒ BEò ÉÊiÉ ( +OÉäVÉÒ iéléé ʽþxnùÒ Éå ) * ; iii. núù ú ºÉÆSÉÉ ú Ê É ÉÉMÉ Eäò ɹÉÇ 1996-97 Eäò ±ÉÉ É +Éè ú ½þÉÊxÉ ºÉ ÉxvÉÒ ±ÉäJÉä +Éè ú 31 ÉÉSÉÇ, 1997 iéeò EòÉ iéö±éxé {ÉjÉ *
Shri Kabindra Purkayastha (Minister of State in the Ministry of Communications) laid on the Table- I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Communications Notification, G. S. R. 133, dated the 6th July, 1998 publishing the Indian Wireless Telegraphy (Commercial Radio Operator's Certificate of Proficiency and Licence to operate Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems) Rules, 1997, under sub-section (5) of section 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. II. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Communications Notification G.S.R. 503(E), dated the 19th August, 1998 publishing the Indian Post Office (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 1998 regarding revision of rates of some of the Postal services w.e.f. 31st August, 1998, under section 7 of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898. III. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the profit and Loss Account for the year 1996-97 and Balance Sheet as on the 31st March, 1997 of the Department of Telecommunications. ; ÉÒ ºÉÉä É{ÉÉ±É ( EÞòÊ¹É ÉÆjÉÉ±ÉªÉ Éå úévªé ÉÆjÉÒ ) xéä ÊxÉ xéê±éjéié {ÉjÉ ºÉ ÉÉ {É]õ±É {É ú újéä:-- ; I. +É É ªÉEò ɺiÉÖ +ÊvÉÊxÉªÉ É, 1955 EòÒ véé úé- 3 EòÒ ={ÉvÉÉ úé (6) Eäò +véòxé EÞòÊ¹É +Éè ú ºÉ½þEòÉÊ úiéé Ê É ÉÉMÉ ) EòÒ +ÊwɺÉÚSÉxÉÉ+Éå EòÒ BEò-BEò ÉÊiÉ ( +ÆOÉäVÉÒ iéléé ʽþxnùÒ Éå ) :- ; (i) +ÊvɺÉÚSÉxÉÉ ºÉÆJªÉÉÆEò EòÉ. +É. 759 ( + ) ÊnùxÉÉÆEò 5-11-97 EòÒ ÉätiÉÉ +Éè ú Uô½þ ɽþÒxÉä Eäò ʱÉB ÉføÉxÉä ÉɱÉÒ EòÉ. +É. 946 ( + ) ; ÊnùxÉÉÆEò 2 xé É É ú, 1998 * ; (ii) ɹÉÇ 1998-99 Eäò nùéè úéxé VÉ ÉÇxÉÒ Eäò ºÉÉlÉ ÊEòB MÉB ºÉÖMÉ É @ñhé ºÉ½þɪÉiÉÉ Eò úé ú Eäò +véòxé ɽþÉÆ ºÉä +ɪÉÉiÉ ÊEòB VÉÉxÉä ÉɱÉä ; ;{ÉÉä]õÉÊ ÉªÉ É C±ÉÉä úé<b ( {ÉÉä]õÉ É EòÉ ªÉÚ äú]õ ) Eäò ʱÉB Ê ÉÊxÉnæù É Eäò ÊxɪÉiÉxÉ EòÉä ÉEòÉÊ ÉiÉ Eò úxéä ÉɱÉÉ EòÉ. +É. 947 ( + ) ÊnùxÉÉÆEò 2 ; ; xé É É ú, 1998 * ; (iii) UôÉä]äõ léè±ééå Éå = ÉÇ úeò EòÒ Ê ÉGòÒ {É ú +ÊiÉÊ úhò EòÒ ÉiÉ É ÉÉÊ úié Eò úxéä Eäò ʱÉB +ÊvɺÉÚSÉxÉÉ EòÉ. +É. 508 ( + ) f nùxééæeò 13 ; ; VÉÚxÉ, 1996 Éå ÊEòB MÉB ºÉÆ ÉÉävÉxÉÉå EòÉä ÉEòÉÊ ÉiÉ Eò úxéä ÉɱÉÒ EòÉ. +É. 963 ( + ) ÊnùxÉÉÆEò 10 xé É É ú, 1998 * ; II. ɹÉÇ 1997-98 Eäò ʱÉB ÉÉ úié ºÉ úeòé ú ( VÉ±É ºÉƺÉÉvÉxÉ ÉÆjÉÉ±ÉªÉ ) +Éè ú ÉÉ]õ ú-bhb {ÉÉ É ú EòxºÉ±]åõºÉÒ ºÉÌ ÉºÉäºÉ ( < f bæ ªÉÉ ) ʱÉÊ É]äõb Eäò ; ÉÒSÉ ½ÖþB ºÉ ÉZÉÉèiÉÉ YÉÉ{ÉxÉ EòÒ BEò ÉÊiÉ ( +ÆOÉäVÉÒ iéléé ʽþxnùÒ ) * SHRI R. JANARTHANAN (Minister of State in the Ministries of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Finance) laid on the Table-
I. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) Notifications No. 101/98-Sustoms, dated the 10th December, 1998, seeking to amend Notifications No. 23/98-Customs dated the 2nd June, 1998, reducing additional duty of customs on iodine, under section 159 of the Customs Act, 1962, together with an explanatory memorandum thereon. II. A copy (in English and Hindi) of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) Notifications No. 102/98-Customs, dated the 10th December, 1998, seeking to impose safeguard duty on imports of Acetylene Black at the rates specified in the notification for a total period of two years, under section 8(b) of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, together with explanatory memorandum thereon:- III. A copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following Notification of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) under sub-section (2) of section 38 of the Central Excise Act, 1944, together with explanatory memoranda there :- (a) Notification No. 36/98-Central Excise dated 10th December, 1998, seeking to prescribe rates of excise duty applicable under sub-section (3) of section 3A of the Central Excise Act, 1944 in respect of a factory of an independent processor manufacturing or producing processed textile fabrics. (b) Notification No. 37/98-Central Excise, dated 10th December, 1998, seeking to amend Notification No. 05/98-Central Excise, dated 2nd June, 1998, exempting aerated waters popularly known as soft drinks. (c) Notification No. 41/98-Central Excise, (N.T.) dated 10th December, 1998, seeking to notify processed textile fabrics. (d) Notification No. 42/98-Central Excise, (N.T.) dated 10th December, 1998, seeking to prescribe rules for determination of the annual capacity of production of a factory of an independent processor manufacturing or producing textile fabrics. (e) Notification No. 43/98-Central Excise, (N.T.) dated 10th December, 1998, seeking to prescribe the procedure to be followed by an independent processor manufacturing or producing processed textile fabrics. (f) Notification No. 44/98-Central Excise, (N.T.) dated 10th December, 1998, seeking to amend Notification No. 29/96-Central Excise (N.T.), dated 3rd September 1996 to make consequential changes in the existing scheme of excise duty payment in respect of processed textile fabrics. 3. REPORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY ; ÉÒ úépé ÉVÉÒ xéä Ê É ÉÉMÉ ºÉÆ ÉÆÊvÉiÉ =téämé ºÉÆ ÉÆvÉÒ ºÉƺÉnùÒªÉ ºlÉɪÉÒ ºÉÊ ÉÊiÉ Eò ÊxÉ xéê±éêjéié ÉÊiÉ ÉänùxÉ ( +ÆOÉVÉÒ iéléé ʽþxnùÒ Éå ) ɺiÉÖiÉ ÊEòB :
; (i) ; ºÉÊ ÉÊiÉ Eäò Ê{ÉUôbä IÉäjÉÉå Eäò +ÉètÉäÙMÉÒEò úhé +Éè ú {ÉÚÆVÉÒ ÉºiÉÖ IÉäjÉ EòÒ ºlÉÂÊ#ÊiÉ ºÉÆ ÉvÉÒ 17 Éå ÉÊiÉ ÉänùxÉ Éå +ÆiÉÊ É¹]õ 漃 òéê ú Éå / ºÉ ÉÖÊHòªÉÉå {É ú ºÉ úeò ú uùé úé EòÒ MÉ<Ç EòÉ Çú ÉÉ<Ç Eäò ºÉÆ ÉÆvÉ Éå ºÉÊ ÉÊiÉ EòÉ Uô ÉÒºÉÆ ÉÉ ÉÊiÉ ÉänùxÉ : ;(ii) ; ºÉÊ ÉÊiÉ Eäò <º{ÉÉiÉ ÉÆjÉÉ±ÉªÉ EòÒ +xéönùéxé ÉÉÆMÉÉä (1996-97) ºÉÆ ÉvÉÒ 18 Éå ÉÊiÉ ÉänùxÉ Éå +ÆiÉÊ É¹]õ 漃 òéê ú ÉÉå / ºÉ ÉÖÊHòªÉÉå {É ú ºÉ úeòé ú uùé úé ;EòÒ MÉ<Ç EòÉ Çú ÉÉ<Ç Eäò ºÉÆ ÉÆvÉ Éå ºÉÊ ÉÊiÉ EòÉ ºÉiÉÉ<ºÉ ÉÉÆ ÉÊiÉ ÉänùxÉ : ; ;(iii) ; ºÉÊ ÉÊiÉ Eäò JÉÉxÉ ÉÆjÉÉ±ÉªÉ EòÒ +xéönùéxé ÉÉÆMÉÉä (1996-97) ºÉÆ ÉvÉÒ 19 Éå ÉÊiÉ ÉänùxÉ Éå +ÆiÉÊ É¹]õ 漃 òéê ú ÉÉå / ºÉ ÉÖÊHòªÉÉå {É ú ºÉ úeò ú ú ; ;uùé úé EòÒ MÉ<Ç EòÉ Çú ÉÉ<Ç Eäò ºÉÆ ÉÆvÉ Éå ºÉÊ ÉÊiÉ EòÉ +`öé<ºé ÉÉÆ ÉÉÆ ÉÊiÉ ÉänùxÉ ; +Éè ú ; (iv) ; ºÉÊ ÉÊiÉ Eäò =téämé ÉÆjÉÉ±ÉªÉ EòÒ +xéönùéxé ÉÉÆMÉÉä (1996-97) ºÉÆ ÉvÉÒ 20 Éå ÉÊiÉ ÉänùxÉ Éå +ÆiÉÊ É¹]õ 漃 òéê ú ÉÉå / ºÉ ÉÖÊHòªÉÉå {É ú ºÉ úeò ú ú ; ;uùé úé EòÒ MÉ<Ç EòÉ Çú ÉÉ<Ç Eäò ºÉÆ ÉÆvÉ Éå ºÉÊ ÉÊiÉ EòÉ =xéiéòºé ÉÉÆ ÉÊiÉ ÉänùxÉ ; +Éè ú 4. STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT ON THE REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT- RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE Shri K. R. Malkani laid on the Table a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the Statements showing action taken by Government on the recommendations contanned in the First Report of the Committee (Twelfth Lok Sabha) on action taken on the recommendations contained in the Fifth Report of the Committee (Eleventh Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants of Ministry of Defence for 1997-98. 5. REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON OFFICES OF PROFIT Shri E. Balanandan laid on the Table a copy (in English and Hindi) of the First Report of the Joint Committee on Offices of Profit (Twelfth Lok Sabha). 6. CALLING ATTENTION TO MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE Shri Gurudas Das Gupta called the attention of the Minister of Industry to the reported decision of the Government to close down eight Central Public Sector Undertakings. Shri Sikander Bakht (Minister of Industry) made a statement. Thereafter, Members sought clarifications on the statement. 7. CLARIFICATIONS BY THE MINISTER
Shri Sikander Bakht (Minister of Industry) clarified some points raised by Shri Jibon Roy and others regarding proposed strike on the 11th December, 1998 by the National Convention of the Committee of Public Sector Trade unions over a 10 point Charter of Demands. (The House adjourned for lunch at 1.00 p.m. and reassembled at 2.03 p.m.) 8. SHORT DURATION DISCUSSION Further discussion on the Sugar Policy raised by Shri Solipeta Ramachandra Reddy on the 9th December, 1998, continued:- Members took part in the discussion. Shri Surjit Singh Barnala (Minister of Food and Consumer Affairs and Chemicals and Fertilizer replied to the debate. The discussion was concluded. (The House adjourned at 6.34 p.m. till 11.00 a.m. on Friday, the 11th December, 1998).