Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 30: Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday criticised the BJP-led Centre over the recently passed Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, calling it a “useless law” and alleging that several bills were passed in Parliament without meaningful debate.
Speaking at an event on the recently concluded monsoon session of Parliament, Chidambaram said the new legislation merely prescribed punishments for unfair practices instead of effectively preventing them.
He questioned whether the law would stop malpractice in public examinations, pointing out that examinations had continued to be cancelled in several states even after the legislation was passed.
“Just yesterday, a public examination was cancelled. The day before yesterday, another public examination was cancelled. In Maharashtra, two public examinations were cancelled. In Rajasthan, one public examination was cancelled,” he said.
Chidambaram alleged that examinations were also being cancelled in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, arguing that the law had failed to address the underlying problem.
He said the legislation should instead have been titled a bill prescribing punishments, likening its approach to “locking the stable after the horse has bolted”.
Chidambaram also criticised the functioning of Parliament during the monsoon session, alleging that there was virtually no debate on the 12 bills passed by both Houses.
“Although a list was released claiming that 12 bills were passed, not a single one was passed following discussion,” he alleged.
Comparing Parliament with the Tamil Nadu Assembly, he said ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and other members were allowed to speak in the state legislature, while the Speaker issued rulings on matters raised by members.
“Watching this makes one feel that being a Member of the State Assembly — Tamil Nadu — is far better than being a Member of Parliament,” he said.
He alleged that in Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition was not permitted to speak, ministers did not answer questions and members were not given adequate opportunities to participate in proceedings.
Chidambaram also criticised the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which he described as one of two “mischievous” bills among the 12 passed during the session.
Explaining his objection, he referred to a Supreme Court judgment that recognised the power of both the Centre and states to levy taxes on mines and minerals.
According to Chidambaram, the new amendment dilutes the judgment by giving the Union government regulatory powers over taxes imposed by state governments.
He said this could mean that if states such as Odisha, Tamil Nadu or Bihar impose taxes, the Centre could prescribe ceilings and frame rules governing those levies.
“Levying taxes is the right of a State legislature,” Chidambaram said, arguing that allowing Parliament to override state legislatures and give rule-making powers to the Centre would effectively weaken the states’ taxation powers.
He warned that the issue could once again reach the Supreme Court, resulting in another prolonged legal dispute.
The Congress leader said the earlier dispute had taken seven to eight years to resolve and argued that a fresh legal challenge could take a similar period.
During this period, he said, state governments could face uncertainty over their ability to levy taxes on mines and minerals.
“That is why the state governments are fighting. They passed this Bill without any debate. There was no debate at all,” Chidambaram said.
The monsoon session of Parliament began on July 20 and was adjourned sine die on August 13. A total of 12 bills were passed by both Houses during the session.