Shimla, Mar 20
Himachal Pradesh Assembly passed HP Loktantra Prahari Samman Bill 2021 in the state assembly on the last day of budget session to provide Samman Rashi to the inmates of jail and those booked during the emergency. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur who holds the portfolio of finance presented the bill for discussion and passing. The bill was passed by voice vote.
Earlier speaking on the bill Congress member Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that bill should be sent to select committee as name of ‘Loktantar Prahn’ seems not incongruous to the bill should have been changed. The Government shall clarified how the certificates would be issued to the beneficiaries. He said that Lok Tantar Prahri also means RTI activists, and journalist.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that during the emergency in the country (from Jan 25, 1975 to Mar 211977) several people had fought for conservation of the existence of democracy and protection of fundamental rights of the people so that the democracy could be revived.
The state government has decided to grant Samman Rashi to those Loktandra prahns who actively participated for the protection of democracy during emergency period and were detained in jails or police stations under the provisions of Maintenance of Internal Security Act 1971 repealed) or Defense of India Rule 1971 (repealed) or Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 for political or social reasons. For this purpose committee also has been proposed to be constituted to consider the claims of the applicants. The committee shall also be empowered to cancel the order of Samman Rashi on certain grounds like submission of false document and punishment of committing the offences.
The bill would burden R$ 2.63 Cr on the state exchequer per annum.
The sec 5 of the bill makes the provision fixation of Samman Rashi shall be determined from time to time by the state Government. The spouse of such Loktarta Prahn shall be eligible to get Samman Rashi. Sec -6 provide the procedure of submitting applications and issuing of certificate and constitution of the committee.
