Facing number crunch in Rajya Sabha, government was today forced to defer a bill that seeks to regulate the realty business after opposition insisted on referring it to the Parliamentary Standing Committee.
Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the Real Estate (Amendment) Bill should be deferred to allow government time to have more consultations with parties.
He stated this after opposition demanded that the Bill be referred to the Standing Committee as soon as it was moved for consideration and passage.
"We do not have majority in this House...I am aware of it," Naidu observed while suggesting deferment of the Bill.
The bill, moved by the previous UPA government, has been brought by the current dispensation with amendments to the proposed legislation that will bring under its ambit commercial and all ongoing projects as also brokers while safeguarding consumers.
Moving the bill, Naidu flagged the urgency to bring it to "safeguard the interests of consumers" and cited a Supreme Court order to buttress the point.
He referred to examples of "violations" taking place in Noida and Gurgaon and said, "it is better to have a regulator" and have some safeguards against the "unscrupulous elements".
The Opposition members, however, kept insisting that the bill be referred to the Standing Committee.
In view of this, Naidu, who is also Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said, "If members have some apprehensions, I am ready to defer for two-three days and then again come back to the House....If further consultation is needed informally, I am willing to take their (opposition) suggestions...To dispel their apprehensions."
He acknowledged that "We do not have majority in this House" and said "My suggestion is to defer it."
Ruling NDA is in a minority in the Upper House.
Accepting the request, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said that he was "deferring the bill for few days" with the consent of the House to facilitate the minister to have consultations with members and come back to the House again.
