New Delhi: A private member bill proposing inclusion of certain castes in the Scheduled Castes (SC) category was defeated in the Rajya Sabha today, nearly three months after the government almost faced an embarrassing situation on it in the Upper House.
The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2014, moved by Vishambhar Prasad Nishad of the Samajwadi Party in April last year, was voted out with 26 members opposing it while five members favoured it.
The Bill was put to vote after Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi pushed for it, saying a discussion on it has already taken place.
Earlier on December 4 last year, the government, which disfavoured the Bill, was on the verge of facing an embarrassing situation in the House when it was about to be put to vote in the House where it is in a minority.
The embarrassment was averted as the ruling side cited lack of quorum.
As per the rules, the House should have at least 10 per cent of members of the total strength present for quorum. In the case of Rajya Sabha, presence of at least 25 members is required for quorum.
Normally, Private Member Bills, except in a rare few cases, are withdrawn by those moving them after a reply from the government.
Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot had earlier urged Mr Nishad to withdraw the Bill saying that the Centre cannot include castes like Mallah, Goriya and Kashyap under SC as the Registrar General (RGI) has rejected the UP government's proposal twice.
Mr Nishad had said that amendments were necessary to remove certain anomalies as some castes like 'Mallah' fall under SC in Delhi and West Bengal and not in Uttar Pradesh.
In some states, some castes are under SC in some districts, while in other districts they in other backward castes (OBC) category, he said, adding that there is a need to remove such disparity not only in UP but across the country.
