The three-day Assembly session concluded on a bizarre and unfortunate note with the government rushing through crucial Bills, in all eleven on Friday, completely overriding the legislative rights of members of the House for scrutiny and a fair debate.
The Goa Mineral Development Corporation Bill, The Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill, The Goa Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, The Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation of Single Window Clearance Bill, and The Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill are some of the important bills that needed a deeper level of discussion, deliberation and concurrence of government's perspectives.
There is no denying Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's contention that these bills are in the interest of the common man, but the hurry behind it is unjustified, especially against the backdrop of the government opting for a truncated session. Since these legislations are significant to the people, there was even more reason to follow due procedures and respect the rights of people's representatives. Crucial laws like these cannot be passed in violation of normal legislative procedures.
Legislative democracy and law framing is a serious exercise requiring a considered deliberative process that includes scrutiny and examination of details. The hallowed precincts of the House provide a forum for the Opposition to eschew government perspectives within the parameters of the legislature. A government that bulldozes its way because it enjoys a brute majority without even allowing a discussion is only violating the fundamentals of law-making.
In the final session, one witnessed a verbal barrage of numbers, clauses and sections announced, presented and passed with "The Ayes have it, the Ayes have it" leaving the Opposition as mere spectators, and reducing the legislative process into a free-for-the-ruling and a unidirectional procedure. Leave aside the fierce criticism faced by several ministers over several issues catching them on the wrong foot.
While there were fiery exchanges on the floor of the House, legislators cutting across parties and political boundaries were seen huddled together, exchanging complementaries and engaging in light banter. While there is nothing wrong with the bonhomie, what is sad is that legislators, including the CM and the Health Minister getting into a huddle during adjournments and in-between breaks and openly violating Covid protocol. The atmosphere inside the House beats the logic of curtailing a session due to Covid fear.
The session has ended, and all said and done, the bills have been passed. The question now is about the fine print of these bills. For example, provisions of Bills like The Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill and The Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill need a detailed understanding vis-a-vis the Town and Country Planning Act which also encompasses land and issues of dwelling houses.
The argument is not to contest or go into the merits of the Bills. The point of contention is the undue haste, and the process followed to get them passed. This is an infringement on fair democracy, and sadly this is allowed to pass.
