Government to seek ratification of President's rule in Arunachal in Budget session

NEW DELHI: The government will push for the ratification of the proclamation of President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh and passage of a Bill to replace the ordinance to amend the Enemy Property Act during the first part of the Budget session beginning February 23.

President's Rule was imposed in Arunachal Pradesh on January 26 following political instability in the state.

As per Article 356 of the Constitution, the proclamation will cease to operate within two months unless "it has been approved by resolutions of both Houses of Parliament".

Sources in the government said that soon after the tabling of the Union Budget, the government will push for the passage of the resolution in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The BJP-led NDA government lacks numbers in the Upper House.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh will also move a Bill to replace the ordinance to amend the Enemy Property Act, which was issued on January 8.

As per the Constitution, the ordinance lapses 42 days/6 weeks from the day a session begins unless a Bill to replace it is cleared by Parliament.

The ordinance amends the 47-year-old Enemy Property Act to allow custodians to continue to retain control over such properties.

The ordinance amends the provisions of the Act declaring that all "enemy property" vested in the custodian would continue to vest in the custodian irrespective of the death or extinction of the enemy.

After the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, the Enemy Property Act was promulgated in 1968.

The first part of the session is from February 23 to March 16, while the second part is from April 25 to May 13.