Controversy Brews Over Categorization of Data Protection Bill as Money Bill

New Delhi, August 3, 2023: The Indian government has obtained President Droupadi Murmu’s approval to categorize the new data protection bill as a money bill, which would enable it to bypass the voting power of the Rajya Sabha.

While government officials assert that the bill will still be treated as an ordinary or non-money bill, opposition parties are voicing concerns, fearing a violation of the Right to Information (RTI) principle. According to page 22 of the bill, the President has given the green light for it to be considered as a money bill.

Congress lawmaker Manish Tewari tweeted a notification indicating that the bill can be brought as a money bill. He raised questions about the sudden classification and its implications on the legislative process. If certified as a money bill, the Rajya Sabha’s voting rights on the bill would be limited, and it could only recommend non-binding changes to the Lok Sabha.

Tewari criticized the latest version of the bill, which addresses data protection, and called for it to be treated as a regular bill and sent back to a Joint Committee of Parliament for further consideration.

The notification tweeted by Tewari mentioned, “The President, having been informed of the subject matter of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023, recommends to the House the introduction of the Bill under article 117(1) and consideration of the bill under article 117(3) of the Constitution.”

Article 117 of the Constitution deals with “Special provisions as to financial Bills,” specifying the conditions under which a bill can be classified as a money bill. This move has sparked debate and scrutiny within the political landscape, with opposition parties urging a thorough review of the bill’s implications on data protection and RTI rights.

As the issue unfolds, both houses of Parliament will closely examine the bill’s categorization and its potential impact on data protection laws and individual rights.