BENGALURU: After the government failed to get the anti-conversion bill passed in the legislative council in the recently concluded Belagavi session, it is now exploring the option of promulgating an ordinance to bring in the law.
Home minister Araga Jnanendra, who is piloting The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, said, "We will bring the ordinance to the cabinet next week. We are planning to promulgate it in early January after getting the governor's assent."
However, law minister JC Madhuswamy said the government will also consider the timing of the joint session before pushing for the ordinance.
"We have an option to get the bill passed in the council during the next legislature session— the joint sitting of the assembly and council— in January or February. But if the legislature session is delayed, we will take the option of promulgating an ordinance," said Madhuswamy.
The bill was passed in the assembly by voice vote on December 23. The government tried to get it approved in the council on Friday but was forced to defer it as it did not have the required strength. Social welfare minister and House leader Kota Srinivas Poojari told the House that the government will not seek the House's consideration for passage as it wants it to take up the bill in the next session.
"It is left to the government to decide when it wants to get the bill passed. They can even promulgate an ordinance since the bill has been tabled but not rejected by the council," said council chairman Basavaraj Horatti.
According to parliamentary rules, the government can promulgate an ordinance of the pending bill if it is not rejected in any one of the two houses. But it must get the approval of the legislature for the bill in the immediate next session after promulgating the ordinance.
The BJP's strength in the council will increase from 32 to 37 next month when newly-elected MLCs take oath. Since it will still be one seat short of a simple majority in the 75-member council, Jnanendra said the BJP is reaching out to independent member Lakhan Jarkiholi to support the bill. However, Congress and JD(S) are determined to defeat the bill.
"They may promulgate the ordinance. But they have to seek the passage of the bill in the council and we will seek division and defeat the bill. I hope the JD(S) sticks to its present stand," said senior Congress MLC BK Hariprasad.
