Cabinet clears Communal Violence bill

The Union Cabinet on Thursday night cleared a bill to check communal violence besides some other legislations including bringing the one that seeks to bring parity in perks between ministers and Members of Parliament.

The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved the re-drafted Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of victims) bill for introduction in Parliament, sources said.

The decision comes a week after the government tabled the Action Taken Report on the Liberhan Commission report on the Babri Masjid demolition in which it had promised to bring this bill expeditiously.

Among other things, the proposed measure provides for enabling the Centre to declare an area in a state as communally disturbed on its own and send Central security forces without the state's request. This was based on the recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Committee.

Besides, the bill provides for transfer of cases outside the state concerned for trial and take steps to protect witnesses.

The proposals are being criticised in different quarters including the Bharatiya Janata Party saying it would encroach upon the states' domain.

The Cabinet also cleared amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code under which a police official has to give reasons in writing for arrest in all offences that carry a sentence of more than seven years.

The bill relating to perks for the ministers seeks to bring them on par with MPs in their air travel in personal capacity. Now they will be entitled 17 round free trips per year.

The Cabinet also discussed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulatory) Act to monitor funds for the Nongovernmental Organisations but deferred decision as a need for further review was felt.

The bill gives powers to the authorities to check misuse of funds coming from abroad to NGOs through tougher measures relating to the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contributions by NGOs.

The proposed bill plans to involve state governments and district collectors in registration of voluntary organisations.

Home ministry officials point out that nearly 15,000 registered organisations submit their annual accounts to the ministry but their total number could cross 20,000.

Officials argue that rapid growth in the numbers of NGOs has made monitoring more difficult and the work has to be decentralised.

The FCRA, which regulates the receipt and utilization of foreign contribution to voluntary organisations, was enacted during the Emergency to check foreign contribution being used to 'destabilise' the government.