Lok Sabha passes TRAI amendment bill

New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) The Lok Sabha Monday passed a bill to amend the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act which will pave the way for appointment of former TRAI chairman Nripendra Misra as principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The bill replaces an ordinance brought by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, to amend the act which prohibited its chairman and members from taking up any other job in the central or state governments after demitting office.

Misra is a 1967-batch retired IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre and his appointment as principal secretary will be co-terminus with the term of the prime minister or till further orders, according to an order issued by the ministry of personnel.

The bill was passed amid a walkout by members of the Congress, CPI-M and Aam Admi Party.

Before the bill was taken up for discussion, Congress's Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary moved a statutory resolution seeking disapproval of the house on the bill, which was defeated.

In a surprise turnaround, Trinamool Congress, which had opposed the bill earlier, supported it on the floor of the house.