Don’t miss the latest developments in business and finance.

Revival of AP Upper House on the cards

Image
Nistula Hebbar New Delhi
Last Updated : Feb 06 2013 | 5:15 PM IST
In an apparent favour to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajashekhara Reddy, the winter session of Parliament will see the introduction of a Bill to revive the legislative council in the state.
 
According to Parliamentary affairs ministry sources, the Bill is on the list of business for the session.
 
The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council was dissolved in March 1985, by then Chief Minister NT Rama Rao, as the 90-seat House had a Congress majority. The ostensible reason given was the legislative council was a drain on the state exchequer.
 
The proposal to revive it predates the state Assembly elections, but the tie-up with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and the limit on ministryships has forced Reddy's hands.
 
"After being out of power for nine years, the Congress leaders are impatient for posts, this is one way of placating them," said an AP Congress leader.
 
Apart from this, a heavy legislative agenda awaits the winter session of Parliament beginning on December 1, with 40 new Bills slated for introduction including Lok Pal, law to replace POTA and patents amendment measure.
 
The Lok Pal Bill, which proposes to bring the office of the Prime Minister within its ambit, is also listed on the agenda for the coming session. But the Cabinet is yet to clear it. Besides these Bills, the 17-day session is also expected to take up a variety of issues for discussion.
 
Six Bills have been referred to standing committees, while two are pending in the Lok Sabha and one in the Rajya Sabha. A Bill to replace the ordinance for setting up of a national commission for minorities educational institutions is also listed on the agenda of government business.
 
The commission for minority educational institutions will look into complaints regarding violation of rights of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice and to permit such institutions to seek direct affiliation to a central university.
 
But a Bill to set up the petroleum and natural gas regulatory board, slated to be brought in the coming session, to oversee downstream oil refining and marketing of petroleum products, natural gas sales and transportation and product and gas pipelines, has been referred to a group of ministers.

 
 

Also Read

First Published: Nov 27 2004 | 12:00 AM IST

Next Story