December 4, 2024
Mausam Noor’s speech on The Boilers Bill, 2024
Sir, today is 4th December. It is a very historic day for the farmers of India. Let me remind the nation that on this day, in 2006, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, began her 26 day bhookhhartal fighting for the rights of the farmers. Thank you for allowing me to put it on record. While I rise to speak on the Boilers Bill,2024, I would like to point out the issue of how legislation is being passed.Now, coming to this Bill, the safety of those who are handling boilers is very important issue. Just yesterday, four labourers in the Prime Minister’s home State of Gujarat, died because of a boiler blast. Thus, safety provisions regarding boilers must be taken seriously. The exemptions provided in the Bill need to be re-examined. The role of private players in such a crucial aspect as certification of boilers must be limited. Sir, I have a genuine question. While ‘boilers’ fall under the Concurrent List, why is it essential for the Union to introduce this Bill? The Bill replaces legislation enacted before Independence. However, it retains most of its provisions rendering it largely symbolic and lacking substantive impact. Its practical relevance is questionable. It must be noted that the countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and South Africa have repealed laws specific to boilers and instead regulate them under broader laws on occupational health and safety. What is the need for a separate law on the design, manufacture and operations of boilers, which is just another industrial equipment? Former Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, Mr. Bibek Debroy, had pointed out in a 2019 article, and I quote, “We no longer need amendments to the Boilers Act. We no longer need that specific legislation and the specific entry in the Seventh Schedule. Boilers are only an example. The entire Seventh Schedule needs a relook.” He advocated that the subject should be moved from the Concurrent List to the State List. Sir, while the Bill empowers the State Governments to appoint Chief Inspector, Deputy Chief Inspector and Inspector, it also states that the qualification requirement will be told by the Union. Why, Sir? Don’t you trust the States? Further, Sir, Clause 43 of the Bill should be revisited. Be it a Chief Inspector or a Deputy Chief Inspector, an Inspector or even the Union Government, no one should be outside the scrutiny of the law. The words ‘not be called in question in any court’ may be problematic. Thus, I request the Union to reconsider it. Coming to the places where boilers are majorly used, it is heart wrenching to see the dip in the manufacturing sector. Sir, in the second quarter, manufacturing grew at mere 2.2 per cent. Electricity, gas, water supply and other utility services grew at only 3.3 per cent at basic prices.It is good that we are discussing this Bill today.
