Rajya Sabha passes birth-death bill without debate as SP protests temple funds

The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023, by a voice vote without any discussion, even as leaders of the Samajwadi Party (SP) staged a protest in the Parliament complex over alleged misappropriation of donations collected for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The bill, which seeks to amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, was cleared amid din and protests by opposition members. It aims to create a national database of births and deaths and enable the use of this data for updating electoral rolls, the National Population Register, and other official records.

Under the proposed amendments, the registration of births and deaths will require the Aadhaar number of parents, and the database will be maintained by the Registrar General of India. The legislation also provides for the establishment of a national database and the sharing of data with other authorities for specified purposes.

The government has argued that the bill will help in efficient governance, ensure accurate data on births and deaths, and enable better targeting of welfare schemes. However, opposition MPs raised concerns about privacy and the potential misuse of personal data. Due to the lack of formal debate, these concerns were not discussed on the floor of the House.

Separately, SP president Akhilesh Yadav, along with party MPs Dimple Yadav, Dharmendra Yadav, and others, protested at the Parliament complex, demanding a probe into the alleged misappropriation of funds donated for the construction of the Ram Temple. The leaders accused the trust managing the temple construction of financial irregularities and demanded transparency in the utilisation of donations.

The protest took place near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Parliament complex, with the leaders raising slogans and holding placards. The SP has been demanding a judicial investigation into the matter, claiming that donations from devotees were not accounted for properly. The party has also sought a response from the trust and the government.

The bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on July 27 and was listed for consideration and passage on Tuesday. With the House witnessing disruptions over various issues, the bill was passed without a detailed debate. It now moves to the Lok Sabha, where it is expected to be taken up later this week.

The passage of the bill without discussion has drawn criticism from civil society groups, which argue that the legislation has significant implications for personal data privacy and the federal structure. Experts have pointed out that the linking of Aadhaar with birth and death records could lead to exclusion of individuals without Aadhaar and raise security concerns.

The Ram Temple donations controversy has been a recurring issue for the Samajwadi Party, which has been demanding action against the temple trust for alleged financial mismanagement. The party has said it will continue to raise the matter both in Parliament and outside. The ruling party has dismissed these allegations, calling them politically motivated.

Tuesday's developments highlight the continued friction in Parliament, where multiple pieces of legislation are being cleared without adequate scrutiny. The lack of debate on a bill with significant implications for personal data and federal structure has underscored the need for more functional legislative proceedings.