Don't approve Gujarat anti-terror law: MHA asks President

The Centre has asked the President not to give assent to the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime Bill as it did not carry two changes earlier suggested by it.

The Centre has asked the President not to give assent to the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (GUJCOC) Bill as it did not carry two changes earlier suggested by it.

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In a recent move, the Home Ministry has recommended to President Pratibha Patil not to sign the Bill which was passed by the Gujarat Assembly for the fourth time on July 28 last year, sources said.

They said Home Minister P Chidambaram has recommended to the President that the Bill should not be given approval as it still has two provisions which the Centre has earlier objected to.

The Home Ministry had earlier decided to delete two provisions in GUJCOC -- admission of confession made before a police officer in a court and a clause that bars grant of bail to a person if the public prosecutor opposes it. Following the advice, the President had in November 2008 returned the GUJCOC Bill.

However, the Narendra Modi Government did not incorporate the suggested changes and the Gujarat Governor forwarded the Bill to the President for consideration. The state government's contention on the GUJCOC has been that it is almost similar to the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MACOCA) and, therefore, the Central government should give its assent to it.