Parliament Watch: Harassment of minorities, fake currency after demonetisation and more [Day 11 roundup]

The eleventh day of the 2021 Winter Session of Parliament saw responses to questions on issues ranging from fake currency cases after demonetisation to the sale of health data..In a question before the Lok Sabha by three Members of Parliament (MPs) on fake currency cases that have arisen after demonetisation, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Pankaj Chaudhary stated that a total of 35 cases have been investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). 135 accused persons have been arrested, out of which 38 persons have been convicted and the remaining 97 are currently facing trial..On the issue regarding curbing fake currency, the statement said, “RBI in consultation with Government initiates process for introduction of new security features/new designs in Indian Bank Notes. RBI also issues various instructions to Banks on measures to safeguard against forged notes.”It was further mentioned that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a Master Circular in April 2021 on detection and reporting of counterfeit notes and the procedure to be followed for the same..RBI and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) stated that no instance of sale of health data has come to their notice. This response was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Dr Bhagwat Karad on being asked by four MPs whether the Central government is aware that “health data such as blood reports, health history, plasma infusion details and other data of COVID-19 patients are being sold by hospitals and diagnostic centres to insurance companies, lenders etc., without their consent.”.A question was raised by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP_ MP Narain Dass Gupta on the increasing number of cases of harassment against minorities. Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi stated that that public order and police are State subjects.The response states, “specific data regarding attacks against individual community is not maintained centrally. The Government of India monitors the internal security and law and order situation in the country and issues appropriate advisories from time to time to maintain peace, public tranquility and communal harmony. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) are deployed to aid and assist State Governments, on their request, to maintain law and order and public tranquility.”A mention was also made of Communal Harmony Guidelines issued by the Central government, which lay down the standard operating procedure to deal with situations arising out of any such violence.“These guidelines are aimed to maintain due vigilance, careful planning and preparatory measures to prevent and pre-empt communal or any such type of violence,” the response stated..Questions were tabled by BJP MP Kanta Kadam before the Rajya Sabha on the measures taken by the Central government under the Vande Bharat Mission (VBM) for safe return of Indian citizens stranded abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic and the funds spent for the same.In response to the question, Minster of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation General (Dr) VK Singh mentioned, “As on 31.10.2021, more than 2,17,000 flights have been operated under Vande Bharat Mission and over 1.83 crore passengers have been facilitated."Regarding the funds spent by the government in this regard, it was admitted that the operations under the mission were commercial and that air fares were paid by passengers. “The Ministry of Civil Aviation has not provided any subsidy/grant for the Vande Bharat Mission,” the response read..During the proceedings in the Lower House today, the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was introduced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Bill was deliberated on extensively by 29 members present in the House. Strong objections were raised by majority members participating in the discussion on the ground that the Bill seeks to retrospectively criminalise the substantive provision of law, which in turn undermines Article 20(1) of the Constitution of India. MP Manish Tewari elaborated on the downsides of the Amendment Bill and stated that it will "take away the stability which is intrinsic to criminal law." Several members emphasised that the Bill could have dangerous ramifications for the citizens of the country. .The Finance Minister responded to the objections raised in the House on the Bill and stated that there is neither retrospective application of the substantive criminal law nor does it seek to bring in new criminal law. It was emphasised that the Bill is merely rectifying an error and is only clarificatory in nature. She went on to say that the Solicitor General concurred on the said aspect, and that the Bill does not seek to diminish Article 20(1) but only seeks to embed the letter and spirit of the legislation. The NDPS Amendment Bill was passed unanimously after a voice vote in the Lower House. .Meanwhile, the Upper House passed the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021 today. The said Amendment Bill clarifies when retired judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts shall be eligible for additional quantum of pension..Rajya Sabha passes Bill to clarify when retired Supreme Court, High Court judges can avail of additional pension