Parliament gives green signal to bill giving constitutional status to NCBC
New Delhi, August 7: Parliament has passed the Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, 2018 seeking constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes with the Rajya Sabha passing it on Monday.
The Rajya Sabha adopted the amendment passed by the Lok Sabha. The bill was passed in the Upper House with an absolute majority and not less than 2/3rd of the majority of the member present in the House.
All 156 members presented in the house voted in favor of the bill.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his happiness over the passing of the Bill in Parliament by saying, “A historic moment for our country! I am glad that the Parliament has passed the Constitution (123rd Amendment) Bill, which grants Constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes. This will contribute to the empowerment of the OBC communities across India.”
Earlier, moving the bill in the Rajya Sabha, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot said it is aimed at providing justice to the socially and educationally backward sections of the society.
Describing the bill as a historic move by Narendra Modi government, Gehlot said there was a long pending demand seeking constitutional status for the Commission.
Gehlot also clarified that NCBC will have no right to interfere in the functioning of such state bodies. This law will not be binding on the state backward commissions and the latter will continue to enjoy the powers vested in them.
He demanded that similarly, a member from religious minority community be made a member of the Commission. He also demanded that the census related to castes and communities be made public.
Supporting the bill, Prof. Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD sought proper representation to backward classes of the deprived sections to join the national mainstream. Vijila Sathyananth of AIADMK demanded a separate ministry for the OBCs.