The Prevention of Torture Bill introduced by the Minister for Home Affairs makes torture a punishable offence. The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill states that the Bill is being introduced to ratify the UN Convention against Torture of 1975. India is a signatory of the Convention but has not enacted a law on torture which would enable it to ratify the Convention. The Bill defines torture and prescribes conditions under which torture is punishable.
This Bill clarifies that Unit Linked Insurance Policies (ULIPs) shall be regulated by IRDA, and not SEBI. It also provides for a Joint Mechanism to resolve disputes between regulators over the right to regulate other such hybrid products.
An increasing number of countries across the globe are looking at alternate sources of energy. Among the existing alternatives, nuclear fuel is being actively considered as an option by India. The tabling of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010 has raised a number of concerns and questions about nuclear energy. In this context, we present here a snapshot of the use of nuclear energy by different countries and the liability regimes existing therein.
The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010 seeks to create a mechanism for compensating victims of nuclear damage arising from a nuclear incident. The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill states that it is being enacted to provide for liability arising out of a nuclear incident, and also due to the “necessity of joining an international liability regime.”
Parliament met for the Budget Session between 22nd February and 7th May with a one month recess beginning in mid-March. Apart from budget discussions, the session also saw debates on several major issues such as price rise, phone tapping and naxalism. We present some statistics from this recently concluded session on the participation by MPs in various debates.
Parliament meets for the Monsoon Session between July 26 and Auguat 27, 2010. There will be a total of 24 sittings. The agenda for government Bills includes 24 pending Bills for consideration and passing. Nine Bills, including four that replace Ordinances, are listed for introduction, consideration and passing. The government plans to introduce 26 new Bills and withdraw two Bills.
The Direct Taxes Code Bill seeks to consolidate and amend the law relating to all direct taxes and will replace the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Bill removes tax exemptions, and lowers income, corporate, and wealth tax rates. The draft Bill was released for public discussion on August 12th, 2009 by the Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee. The Ministry released a revised discussion paper for feedback on June 15, 2010.
