Read on Twitter
Thread on Policy Consultations during Lockdown. https://twitter.com/HuffPostIndia/status/1276384372665581568
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs released the Draft Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Amendment Rules, 2020 on 13th March ( just before lockdown). The consultation period ended on 20th April. https://ourgovdotin.wordpress.com/2020/03/14/comments-invited-on-draft-companies-corporate-social-responsibility-policy-amendment-rules-2020-submit-by-28th-march/
The Draft Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules,2020 was released on 18th April.Transgender Activists questioned the timing and manner of consultation initiated by the Social Justice ministry. Subsequently the deadline was extended to 18th May. https://ourgovdotin.wordpress.com/2020/04/18/comments-invited-on-the-transgender-persons-protection-of-rights-rules2020-submit-by-30th-april/
The Ministry of Power circulated The Draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020 on 17th April 2020. The Chief Ministers of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana raised questions about the anti-federal nature of the bill and the timing of the consultation. https://ourgovdotin.wordpress.com/2020/04/17/suggestions-invited-on-draft-electricity-amendment-bill-2020-submit-by-8th-may/
The Draft Valuers Bill, 2020 was circulated 14th April with 28th May being the last date for submitting comments on the same. Kapil Dev, secretary of Valuers Association commented that it is not the appropriate time for seeking comments from stakeholders. https://ourgovdotin.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/suggestions-invited-on-draft-valuers-bill-2020-submit-by-14th-may/
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change uploaded a draft Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2020 on 12th March (before lockdown). The deadline for this policy consultation is 30th June. https://ourgovdotin.wordpress.com/2020/03/12/comments-invited-on-draft-environment-impact-assessment-notification-2020-submit-by-12th-may/
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the Draft Defence Procurement Procedure for consultation on 20th March (before lockdown). The deadline for the same was 8th May. https://ourgovdotin.wordpress.com/2020/03/22/comments-suggestions-invited-on-defence-procurement-procedure-submit-by-17th-april/
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting uploaded a Draft Policy Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels on 15th April. The submission deadline for the same was 7th June. https://ourgovdotin.wordpress.com/2020/05/02/suggestions-comments-invited-on-draft-amendment-to-guidelines-for-private-satellite-tv-channels-submit-by-15th-may/
Draft circular on Electronic sealing-Deposit of and removal of goods from a customs bonded warehouse was released in May. 12th June was the deadline for the same. https://ourgovdotin.wordpress.com/2020/05/29/suggestion-comments-are-invited-on-draft-circular-on-electronic-sealing-deposit-of-and-removal-of-goods-from-a-customs-bonded-warehouse/
SEBI circulated Social Stock Exchange report for comments on 1st June. Submission deadline is 30th June. https://ourgovdotin.wordpress.com/2020/06/01/comments-invited-on-report-submitted-by-the-working-group-on-social-stock-exchange-submit-by-30th-june/
MCA invited comments(15 days) on the proposal to decriminalise certain offences for improving business sentiments. 23rd June was the deadline. https://ourgovdotin.wordpress.com/2020/06/09/ministry-of-finance-invites-comments-on-decriminalisation-of-certain-offences-for-improving-business-sentiments-submit-by-23rd-june/
On 5th June @MoHFW_INDIA invited comments on draft Amendments to Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules 2019. Deadline was 20th June. https://ourgovdotin.wordpress.com/2020/06/10/comments-invited-on-draft-amendments-to-drugs-and-clinical-trials-rules-submit-by-20th-june/
Unfortunate that the ministries, departments and regulators are going ahead with policy consultations during this crisis situation where stakeholders are finding it difficult to make two ends meet. This exercise would not result in meaningful consultations for sure.
