The Union Cabinet cleared a bill to check communal violence last night. Sources said in New Delhi that the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved the re-drafted Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of victims) bill, for introduction in Parliament.<br/><br/>The decision comes a week after the Government tabled the Action Taken Report on the Liberhan Commission findings of the Babri Masjid demolition in which it had promised to bring in this bill expeditiously. Among other things, the proposed measure provides for enabling the Centre to declare an area in a state as communally disturbed on its own and send central security forces without the state's request. This was based on the recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Committee.<br/><br/>The bill also provides for transfer of cases outside the state concerned for trial and for taking steps to protect witnesses. The proposals are being criticised in different quarters, with the BJP saying it would encroach upon the domain of the States.<br/><br/>The Cabinet also cleared amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code under which a police official has to give reasons in writing for arrest in all offences that carry a sentence of more than seven years.<br/><br/>The union cabinet approved as well a Law Ministry proposal seeking legal and judicial reforms, including the appointment of over 15,000 judges on a contractual basis and the setting up of a National Arrears Grid to suggest ways for reducing the backlog of cases.<br/>