UNION shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha, India's lower house to strong opposition and disruptive behaviour, reports New Delhi's Hindustan Times
UNION shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha, India's lower house to strong opposition and disruptive behaviour, reports New Delhi's Hindustan Times. The bill seeks to expand eligibility for merchant vessel ownership and provide for investigations and inquiries into marine casualties.
Manish Tewari of the Congress party opposed the bill at the introductory stage, raising concerns over the government's legislative competence to enact such a law.
'I oppose the introduction of the Merchant Shipping Bill 2024 due to concerns over legislative competence. Entry 25 of the Union List covers maritime shipping but does not specifically address merchant shipping, creating ambiguity about the Union's authority,' Mr Tewari said.
Additionally, Entry 32 of the Concurrent List on inland waterways and Entry 33 on trade and commerce create potential jurisdictional overlaps, questioning whether the Union Government has exclusive power to legislate on merchant shipping, he said.
Mr Tewari criticised the bill's centralisation of authority, claiming that it could diminish states' roles in managing coastal ports and shipping, potentially undermining federal principles and leading to conflicts.
Mr Sonowal defended the bill, asserting that it was introduced in line with constitutional provisions and had been reviewed by two departments of the law ministry - legal affairs and legislative.
The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024, seeks to repeal the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, and aims to broaden the eligibility criteria for ship ownership under the Indian flag.
It also includes provisions for registering vessels under a bareboat charter-cum-demise (BBCD) arrangement, a financing model where ships are chartered before full payment is made.
Currently, only Indian citizens or companies can register ships under the Indian flag.
The bill also proposes the establishment of a maritime liability framework, including compensation for collisions and accidents at sea. Additionally, it provides for the constitution of a limitation fund for certain claims and aims to streamline administrative processes with electronic registration and digital records.
The House was adjourned shortly after the bill was introduced due to continued opposition protests over the bill.
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