Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often been accused by his adversaries of bypassing parliament route to take refuge in ordinances on bills that lacked political consensus.
But the Modi government’s latest act has earned itself a huge embarrassment in the shape of a reprimand from Pranab Mukherjee, who reportedly warned the Centre saying ‘don’t do it again.’
According to an NDTV report, President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday signed an ordinance which amends the Enemy Property Act for the fourth time.
This was necessitated after the Modi government’s failure to pass it in parliament. President Mukherjee reportedly signed the ordinance in ‘public interests’ but made scathing remarks for Modi government for its decision to bypass the cabinet.
President Mukherjee reportedly wrote a note reprimanding the Modi government that he was signing the ordinance in the interest of public good, but the cabinet must not be bypassed ever again.
This is the first time since Independence that a central government has sent an ordinance to the President without the clearance from the cabinet.
The Enemy Property Act, a 48-year-old law to guard against claims of succession or transfer of properties left by people who migrated to Pakistan or China after wars.
After the president’s reprimand, the government will now reportedly get a post facto approval of the cabinet.
Sourced from JKR, Featured image courtesy: hindustannow.com
