Cabinet approves amendments to four key bills

New Delhi - The union cabinet Friday approved amendments to four key bills for the current parliament session, official sources said.

The four amendment bills are Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical Educational Institutions, Medical Educational Institutions and Universities Bill; Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Bill; Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill; and Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Public International Organisations Bill.

The Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical Educational Institutions Bill aims to check malpractices in technical and medical educational institutions, while the IIIT Bill seeks to give the IIITs administrative autonomy and uniformity.

The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2012, has been drafted by the housing and urban poverty alleviation ministry after United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council recommended the government to enact a law for their protection.

The bill aims to ensure compulsory registration for every street vendor aged over 18 years of age by the respective town vending committees (TVCs), which will specify the vending zone, the time limit and terms and conditions of use.

The Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organisations Bill, 2011 empowers the government to enter into agreements with other countries for enforcing this law and for exchange of investigative information.

The bill criminalises acceptance or solicitation of bribes by any official of these two categories for acts or omissions in their official capacity; offering or promising to offer a bribe to any such official for obtaining or retaining business and abetment or attempting either of the above acts.