Statement

Sir, I have been allotted enough time. Please give me five more minutes. By limiting judicial recourse and routing both civil and criminal actions through Central authorities, the Bill restricts victims' access to ordinary courts and their fundamental right to seek effective remedies. For an ultra-hazardous activity that can devastate entire regions, such procedural barriers perpetuate a culture of impunity. Then, Chapter IV, on the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, essentially retains a regulator controlled by the Central Government – the same Government aggressively promoting nuclear expansion – and its agencies, rather than creating a truly independent, multi-stakeholder authority that will be insulated from political and corporate influence. Sir, I can go ideally into clause-by-clause detail, but since you have already told me that my time is running out, let me just sum up by saying that very simply, the entire regulatory arrangement is an inside job with little or no room for Indian civil society or even meaningful parliamentary oversight. Instead of clearing the fog around nuclear regulation, this arrangement thickens the fog. Sir, Section 44 of Chapter VI grants perhaps the most dangerous power 17.12.2025 1099 in the entire Bill, as it highlights the excessive Executive discretion and exemptions of this Bill. It allows the Central Government to exempt any plant from the requirements of license or liability if, ‘the risk involved is insignificant’. The term ‘insignificant risk’ is not defined anywhere. It is left entirely to the Executive. This provision essentially negates the entire framework of the Bill. It creates a backdoor through which any facility can escape oversight if the Government deems it convenient.

Spoke Shashi Tharoor

Spoke on 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z

In debate Viksit Bharat Gurantee for Rojgar and Ajevika Mission (Gramin):VB-G RAM G Bill