Bhubaneswar, Aug. 20: The Odisha Assembly today adopted a resolution for application of the Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Act, 2011 in the state.

The Act, passed by Parliament, regulates removal, storage and transplantation of human organs and tissues for therapeutic purposes and aims to prevent commercial dealings.

The law permits transplantation of human organs donated by near relatives such as spouse, son, daughter, father, mother, brother, sister, grandfather, grandmother, grandson and granddaughter.

The law has provisions of a minimum five years imprisonment, extendable up to 10 years, and fine up to Rs 1 crore for carrying out organ transplantation by furnishing false documents. Similarly, commercial dealings of organs will be punishable by imprisonment up to three years and fine up to Rs 20 lakh. Officers allowing organ transplantation without authority will be punished with imprisonment up to 10 years and a fine up to Rs 20 lakh.

The application of the central law in Odisha assumes significance as a number illegal kidney transplantations were reported in the state in recent months furnishing false documents that the donors were near relatives of the recipients.

The House also discussed the Odisha Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill, which aims to prohibit grabbing of land belonging to government, local authority, statutory or non-statutory body; land owned, controlled or managed by the government, a public religious or charitable institution or endowment in the state. Land grabbing, in any form, will be made a non-bailable and cognisable offence, which attracts imprisonment up to seven years and with a fine up to Rs 20,000.

The Bill is intended to replace the ordinance promulgated by the Odisha government on May 26, when the Assembly was not in session. The law came following a series of land scams in the state.

Earlier during the day, the House could not transact any business due to unruly scenes over the Prakash Mishra case, in which Orissa High Court had passed strictures against the state government and exonerated the former director-general of police from the corruption charges. Subsequently, the Supreme Court has rejected the Odisha government's appeal against the high court verdict. Opposition Congress members had been staging dharna in the House, demanding discussion on the subject.

Speaker Niranjan Pujari today rejected the adjournment notice moved by the Congress stating that it was "not a matter of urgent public importance". Angry over the ruling, the Congress members trooped into the Well, displaying banners and shouting slogans. The BJD members also rushed to the Well in counter-offensive. The Speaker adjourned the proceedings within a minute in view of pandemonium.

Opposition leader Narasingha Mishra said the Opposition protest would continue till the Speaker reconsidered the ruling. But, the Opposition members would take part in the legislative business in the larger interest of the state.

Supporting the demand, BJP member K.V. Singh Deo said the Assembly should discuss the issue in view of the high court's adverse remarks.

BJD MLA Amar Prasad Satpathy argued that the matter related to an individual should not be discussed in the Assembly.