Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill to amend the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act which will pave the way for appointment of former TRAI chairman Nripendra Misra as the principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The government had on Friday introduced the bill in Lok Sabha amid opposition to replace an ordinance issued on May 28 to change a clause in the TRAI act which prohibited its chairman and members from taking up any other job in the central or state governments after demitting office.
The bill was passed in the lower house clause by clause by voice vote.
The members of the Congress, CPI-M and Aam Aadmi Party staged a walkout as the bill was being passed in the House.
Before the bill was taken up for discussion, Congress' Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary moved a statutory resolution seeking disapproval of the House on the bill, which was defeated.
In a surprise turnaround, Trinamool Congress, which had opposed the bill earlier, supported it on the floor of the House.
The NDA does not enjoy majority in Rajya Sabha and depends on support of other parties like Samajwadi Party, BSP and AIADMK to sail through.
Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati had earlier said her party will not oppose Misra's appointment and support the bill in Parliament.
"Centre has the right to choose its officers and decide how they want to run the government," she said outside Parliament when asked whether her party will oppose the bill.
"We have no objection to Misra's appointment as he is a good officer," she said.
"There was some controversy regarding the appointment of new secretary. On this, our party has to say that we should not oppose such amendments. So, whenever the bill comes to Rajya Sabha, we will support it," she added.
A 1967 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Misra has served in many departments, including TRAI as its chairman in 2006.
His appointment as principal secretary will be co-terminus with the term of the prime minister or till further orders, according to an order issued by the ministry of personnel.
(With PTI, IANS and ANI inputs)
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