This bill was also introduced in the third Lok Sabha but it could not be passed. It was always said that it was due to lack of time which prohibited this bill to be passed. It was always said that it was due to lack of time which prohibited this bill to be passed. The life of one Lok Sabha is five years. I am surprised that in the life of the second Lok Sabha. It was not passed; in life of the third Lok Sabha, it was not passed and it has now come in the fourth Lok Sabha. Let us really expect that this bill will see a better fate now. It is not that there was any lack of material. Members who just spoke before me point out, many (Committes were appointed). First of all, a {Committee} was appointed by the Government of India to go into the entire law of patents. A patents enquiry committee was appointed which went into the entire details of patents system and formulated proposals based on U.K. Pattern. That was introduced in December, 2003 but it lapsed I do not think that the Government can convince this country or outside that this piece of proposed legislation lapsed because of lack of time. We are not so innocent as all that we could not find time for an {Important} law when we require this law to be passed or to be given a shape because of the requirements of rapid technological developments in the country. Does it create a good impression? The whole world has always been talking about our patents. In the last twelve years, we have not been able to do anything. The Government has not come forward with its mind made up and it is really a great tragedy that this bill is one of the many instances of how much confusion there is in the thinking of the Government vis-a-vis modern requirements of economic development. This is only one instance. We have the infrastructure, If you are wanting in housing, do this. You are daily sermonising that the bank should cut down. The State Bank of India has come down with eight per cent interest rate on house loan and all these things.
