The Lok Sabha on Monday gave its nod to an amendment in the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2014, validating the appointment of Nripendra Misra as Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

But the Bill will not find easy passage in the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling coalition is in minority, and the Congress is opposing the amendment. However, the Trinamool Congress and UPA ally NCP have decided not to oppose the Bill.

The Bill seeks to remove restrictions on retired TRAI chairmen, and members of the telecom regulator, from being appointed to government jobs again.

Following the amendment, they can take up Central or State Government jobs, or positions in private telecom companies, two years after demitting office. However, with prior approval from the Central Government, they can be reemployed even before the completion of two years.

The appointment of Misra as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister necessitated the amendment.

Lapse of ordinance

Misra, a 1967 batch IAS officer, had retired from TRAI in 2009. He was formally appointed on May 28 after the President promulgated an Ordinance making changes in the TRAI Act.

Since the Ordinance was set to lapse on July 18, it was necessary to get the approval on the amendment Bill.

Now, the Rajya Sabha will take up the Bill, following which it will require the President’s assent to become law.

Telecom and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the aim of the amendment is to remove “a palpable anomaly” — under the existing law, a former TRAI chairman can take up a private job two years after retirement, but not a government job.

Interestingly, there is no such restriction on chairmen of other regulators such as IRDA (Insurance), PFRDA (Pension) and AERA (Airports).

After the discussion, the House passed the Bill amid a walkout by the Congress, RJD, AAP, RSP and CPI(M).

However, all those who opposed the Bill maintained that they are not casting any doubt on the integrity and honesty of the person concerned, but are only against the flouting of democratic norms and procedures.

The house saw a volte-face by the TMC when its leader Sudip Bandopadhyay supported the measure, saying the Prime Minister has “the right to appoint any officer who he feels fit and is in the greater interests of better governance”. The party had opposed the Bill last week.

The AIADMK also supported the Government’s move.

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