The Orissa council of ministers today recommended the dissolution of the Orissa Legislative Assembly (OLA) to the state governor M C Bhandare.
Chaired by the chief minister Naveen Patnaik, the council of ministers approved a proposal to recommend the dissolution of the 13th assembly which was constituted on 15 April 2004.
Sources said, since the election to the state assembly has been completed, the Election Commission of India (ECI) may issue notification constituting new assembly any time after 16 May 2009. In this context, the council of ministers approved a proposal for dissolution of the assembly with effect from the date of constitution of newly elected assembly.
It also approved a proposal moved by the home department for amendment of the section 167 of the code of criminal procedure, 1973 (Act 2 of 1974) in its application to the state of Orissa.
The code of criminal procedure (Orissa amendment), 2009 was promulgated by the governor of Orissa on 26 February 2009. Approval of the cabinet was taken before the promulgation of this ordinance.
When this ordinance was in force, OLA was convened for one day on 11 March 2009 to prove majority by the BJD government and there was no scope for introduction of the bill for replacement of the ordinance. Since there is no chance of summoning the OLA at this stage and the ordinance should be in force, the council of ministers approved the proposal. The ordinance seeks to dispense with the physical presence of hardcore criminals before magistrate and introduce the system of video-trial. This is expected to minimize the instances of escape and ambush of criminals during the translocation and ensure their speedy trial.
