I.T. bill to be introduced in LS

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 10. The Information Technology Bill dealing with the entirely new cyber world, is expected to be introduced and discussed in the Lok Sabha on May 15. This was agreed in the Business Advisory Committee of the Lok Sabha today.

The Government is believed to be waiting for the report of the standing committee attached to the Ministry of Science and Technology, expected to be submitted by this week-end. Depending on this, the bill would be introduced and a full day has been allotted tentatively for discussion on this important piece of legislation.

The bill was prepared for introduction during the Winter Session of Parliament late last year but had to be withdrawn at the last moment after analysts pointed out several lacunae, particularly the sweeping powers given to law enforcing authorities to check cyber crime. The `Cyber Bill' will deal with several emerging areas in the world of electronic commerce such as allowing the use of digital signatures which will usher banking on the internet and check cyber-related crimes by hackers and impersonators.

While a number of bills will be taken up in the remaining part of this week _ including a bill on semi-conductor circuit design _ the BAC agreed that the Sankhya Vahini project and the Subramaniam Committee's report on Kargil will be discussed next week.

A Congress member of the BAC raised the issue of Women's Reservation, pointing out that although the bill had been introduced, the Government seemed to be delaying its consideration and passage. The Government view was that on such an important legislation involving a major amendment of the Constitution, it would be better to create the right political atmosphere of consensus to allow smooth and peaceful passage of the bill.

Although the bills relating to the creation of new states of Uttaranchal and Chattisgarh were not mentioned at the BAC, party leaders pointed out that the Government could introduce the bills at any time next week, as promised by the Union Home Minister while addressing BJP MPs yesterday. Home Ministry sources indicated that the two bills were ready for Cabinet approval.

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Section  : National
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