03-16-2005, 05:56 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Fodder scam: Centre promises inquiry amidst Oppn walkout
Pioneer News Service/ New Delhi
Rattled by the Supreme Court judge S N Variava's disclosure that someone from Patna High Court had approached him seeking replacement of the trial court judge adjudicating the fodder scam case against Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Centre on Wednesday promised an inquiry into the whole episode.
But the assurance by Union Law Minister H L Bhardwaj in the Rajya Sabha failed to pacify an agitated BJP-led opposition, which staged a walkout from both House of the Parliament, to protest what they described as a bid to influence the superior judiciary on behalf of the railway minister.
The BJP-led Opposition walked out from the Lok Sabha, as they were not allowed the Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to raise the matter in the House.
"Anyone who interferes with the judiciary will be dealt with severely. No one will be able to browbeat the judiciary," Mr Bhardwaj told the Rajya Sabha, seeking to pacify an agitated Opposition and added "There would be an inquiry into the whole affair.
The matter was raised by BJP leader Balbir Punj, who alleged that efforts were being made to interfere in the working of the judiciary and influence it.
This led to a commotion in the Upper House with the treasury and the opposition benches hurling charges against each other, prompting the Union law minister to promise an inquiry into the whole affair.
On the basis of the minister's reply, Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat refused to allow the issue to be further discussed and asked the Opposition to stage a walkout if they had made up their mind to do so.
Mr Shekhawat said, "No one should disturb the proceedings of the House, there has to be a limit.
An exasperated chairman added that "If you want to walk out please do... when you have made up your mind to walk out please do." Soon after, members of the opposition trooped out of the Rajya Sabha.
In the Lok Sabha, BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra sought the Speaker's permission to raise the matter as soon as zero hour began. But with Mr Chaterjee not inclined to give the permission, the BJP-led Opposition staged a walkout.
Mr Chatterjee refused to allow Mr Malhotra saying "it is a matter of judiciary. It has nothing to do with the Government.''
Members can raise "matters of public importance," he added.
Mr Lalu Prasad was present in the Lower House when the opposition sought to raise the issue.
JD(U) leader Prabhunath Singh and BJP leaders Malhotra and Ananth Kumar repeatedly sought permission to raise the topic.
After Ramjilal Suman (SP) and Ms Sumitra Mahajan (BJP) moved their submissions, the chair called Mr Raghuraj Singh Sakia (SP) to move his submission.
Mr Malhotra subsequently staged a walkout along with his colleagues.
"Someone from the Patna High Court approached me wanting to know whether The Judge (presiding over the trial court) could be replaced," Justice Variava told a stunned courtroom on Tuesday, while hearing a PIL seeking cancellation of bail to Mr Lalu Prasad in the multi-crore fodder scam case.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Pioneer News Service/ New Delhi
Rattled by the Supreme Court judge S N Variava's disclosure that someone from Patna High Court had approached him seeking replacement of the trial court judge adjudicating the fodder scam case against Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Centre on Wednesday promised an inquiry into the whole episode.
But the assurance by Union Law Minister H L Bhardwaj in the Rajya Sabha failed to pacify an agitated BJP-led opposition, which staged a walkout from both House of the Parliament, to protest what they described as a bid to influence the superior judiciary on behalf of the railway minister.
The BJP-led Opposition walked out from the Lok Sabha, as they were not allowed the Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to raise the matter in the House.
"Anyone who interferes with the judiciary will be dealt with severely. No one will be able to browbeat the judiciary," Mr Bhardwaj told the Rajya Sabha, seeking to pacify an agitated Opposition and added "There would be an inquiry into the whole affair.
The matter was raised by BJP leader Balbir Punj, who alleged that efforts were being made to interfere in the working of the judiciary and influence it.
This led to a commotion in the Upper House with the treasury and the opposition benches hurling charges against each other, prompting the Union law minister to promise an inquiry into the whole affair.
On the basis of the minister's reply, Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat refused to allow the issue to be further discussed and asked the Opposition to stage a walkout if they had made up their mind to do so.
Mr Shekhawat said, "No one should disturb the proceedings of the House, there has to be a limit.
An exasperated chairman added that "If you want to walk out please do... when you have made up your mind to walk out please do." Soon after, members of the opposition trooped out of the Rajya Sabha.
In the Lok Sabha, BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra sought the Speaker's permission to raise the matter as soon as zero hour began. But with Mr Chaterjee not inclined to give the permission, the BJP-led Opposition staged a walkout.
Mr Chatterjee refused to allow Mr Malhotra saying "it is a matter of judiciary. It has nothing to do with the Government.''
Members can raise "matters of public importance," he added.
Mr Lalu Prasad was present in the Lower House when the opposition sought to raise the issue.
JD(U) leader Prabhunath Singh and BJP leaders Malhotra and Ananth Kumar repeatedly sought permission to raise the topic.
After Ramjilal Suman (SP) and Ms Sumitra Mahajan (BJP) moved their submissions, the chair called Mr Raghuraj Singh Sakia (SP) to move his submission.
Mr Malhotra subsequently staged a walkout along with his colleagues.
"Someone from the Patna High Court approached me wanting to know whether The Judge (presiding over the trial court) could be replaced," Justice Variava told a stunned courtroom on Tuesday, while hearing a PIL seeking cancellation of bail to Mr Lalu Prasad in the multi-crore fodder scam case.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->