Government to explain to public importance of recent ordinances

NEW DELHI: The government has decided to reach out to the public to apprise them on the importance of the recent ordinances and the circumstances in which they were promulgated, a decision that comes in the wake of the President voicing his objection over the 'ordinance route'.

Members of Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA), who met in the chambers of Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu here, discussed the issue of ordinance at length after firming up the Budget session schedule, sources said.

Naidu also briefed his colleagues about details regarding ordinances issued since 1952 by various governments led by Congress and the United Front. A total of 637 ordinances have been issued in the last 62 years.

After a detailed discussion, it was decided that all the MPs and ministers would explain to the people in their respective constituencies on the significance of the ordinances and circumstances in which they had to be issued.

The government's move assumes significance as Congress and Left parties have been targeting the Narendra Modi government over the issue of series of ordinances promulgated after the NDA assumed power at the Centre.

President Pranab Mukherjee had also cautioned against "ordinance route" for normal legislations, saying ordinances are meant for specific purpose "to meet an extraordinary situation under extraordinary circumstances".

Keeping the Budget session in mind, the NDA government wants to make the people aware about the ordinance issue, the sources said.

The government has issued at least 8 ordinances including one on raising the FDI limit in the insurance sector from 26 per cent to 49 per cent and e-auctioning of coal mines.

As per the rules, an Ordinance has to be converted into legislation within 42 days of commencement of Parliament session else it lapses. An Ordinance can be repromulgated only three times.

Barring Sushma Swaraj, all other members of the CCPA attended the meeting.