Presenting the Merchant Shipping Bill before the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal further tightened the screw on strengthening India’s overall maritime security by proposing that a regulating authority be designed to handle vessel and facility security in the country’s ports. Even though public attention focused on the bill it also was not without any oppositions of members claiming that this legislative competence rested with the centre and affects the nation’s maritime front.
Key Objectives of the Merchant Shipping Bill
The main objective of the Merchant Shipping Bill is to deal with some of the critical security issues that relate to India’s maritime infrastructure. It looks at creating a regulatory body with the mandate to oversee the safety and security of both vessels and port facilities. This move resonates with the heightened focus on the enhancement of India’s maritime security, especially in light of heightened global trade and increasing security threats in maritime regions.
The bill draws a wide comprehensive approach towards securing India’s ports, vessels, and its seashore infrastructure. It aims to implement an effective regulatory mechanism that can be evoked in response to evolving threats within the maritime domain.
Opposition to the Bill
Like all government initiatives, the Merchant Shipping Bill was not left without its critics. The opposition members also raised their voice against it. Manish Tewari, Congress party member, questioned the legislative competence of the government in bringing this bill forward. According to him, the subject of merchant shipping does not have a direct entry in the Central or Concurrent List, which would have given the central government a legal mandate to enact laws on the matter. Tewari based his argument on the technical ground that the introduction of the bill was illegal. He said:
Saugata Roy of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) also opposed the bill with an argument that it will concentrate more power in the hands of the bureaucracy. According to him, “instead of fostering growth, the bill will restrict development of India’s merchant shipping”. He argued that placing too much regulatory control in the hands of bureaucracy can potentially strangle growth in an area as important as trade and economic expansion for the country.
Government’s Stance on the Bill
The bill had to face opposition objections; yet Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal strongly defended it and asserted that it was completely in consonance with the provisions of the constitution. According to Sonowal, two significant ministries dealing with law affairs vetted the bill. One was the Department of Legal Affairs and the other, Legislative Department. He reassured the House that the bill was well within the government’s constitutional rights and would serve the country’s long-term maritime security interests.
Sonowal defended that the bill was carefully drafted with a view to improving the security of the maritime infrastructure of India, to better prepare the country in accordance with the international security requirements. The minister also added that the bill would bring the much-needed reforms and modernise the maritime security framework of the country.
The Legislative Process and Future Implications
The Merchant Shipping Bill is a critical step to enhance India’s maritime security and ensure that the country complies with international norms on port and vessel safety. The bill will definitely be scrutinized in details as it passes through Parliament. Lawmakers are sure to discuss its provisions at length, especially considering that the opposition has already taken a stand against it by stating that it may weaken the shipping sector.
Although the passage of the bill in the parliamentary sessions ahead may be rocky, it is evident that the government wants to implement a comprehensive regulatory framework for security, safe passage of ships, and the promotion of India’s maritime industry.
As India gradually increases its presence in the international maritime trade, the Merchant Shipping Bill can be regarded as one of the strategic legislation pieces that will keep the country on the track to become a significant part of international shipping and international security.
Conclusion
The Merchant Shipping Bill presented in the Lok Sabha is a significant development for India’s maritime security. It attempts to establish a stronger regulatory framework that would deal with security concerns related to vessels and port facilities. Despite such a scenario, the opposition parties have criticized the legislation with arguments such as the incompetence of the legislative and how it would affect the merchant shipping industry. The government justifies the bill as consistent with constitutional provisions. A safe, efficient, and more secure maritime environment in India, which would bring India at par with international standards, and in support of India’s maritime ambitions would result from this legislation, should it be passed into law.
Refer :
Economic Times, Link to article
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