Bedi gives nod for introduction of Appropriation Bill with rider

Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi has giver her nod for the introduction of the Appropriation Bill, which allows the government to withdraw funds for its expenditure, in the Assembly but with a rider that the three BJP leaders nominated to the House be allowed to function as MLAs.

Amid the protracted stand-off with Chief Minister V Narayansamy, Bedi approved the passage of the Appropriation Bill last night, she told reporters here.

The Appropriation Bill, which was to be introduced on July 18, could not be tabled as the LG had not approved it.

The House adjourned on July 19 without being able to bring in the Appropriation Bill, whose passage is part of the budget exercise, causing apprehension whether the government would able to disburse salaries and pensions and meet routine expenses.

 

In a communication to the assembly, Bedi asked the House to pass the bill allowing the territorial government to expend money from the consolidated fund only after ensuring compliance of the Supreme Court order allowing the three BJP leaders to attend the proceedings.

Bedi said her office has received the SC order which says the three should be allowed to function as MLAs and "attend and participate" in the proceedings of the House.

The Budget session of the Assembly began on July 2 and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who also holds the Finance portfolio, presented the Rs 7,530-crore budget for the fiscal 2018-2019.

The session was originally scheduled to continue till July 27.

But the days of meeting were rescheduled and the House assembled only till July 19, as the chief minister and his MLAs had planned to visit New Delhi on July 23 to press the Centre for grant of statehood.

While Chief Minister Narayanasamy blamed the LG for the impasse, the LG said the session was originally scheduled to have sittings till July 27 but was suddenly "foreclosed."

She wanted the government to make it transparent as to what necessitated this decision.

The Supreme Court had on July 19 pronounced an interim order directing the Puducherry Assembly Speaker to allow the three nominated members to function as MLAs till the adjudication of the petition filed before the apex court.

The petitions challenged the March 23 High Court order upholding the nomination of the three members as legislators of the Puducherry Assembly.

Meanwhile, the AIADMK urged the Centre to send a high-level official team to study the "impasse prevailing in Puducherry following an intensive face-off between the LG and the chief minister" on the Appropriation Bill.

He said Bedi had claimed that she had given her approval last night for the Assembly to adopt the bill after reconvening the House, subject to the condition that the apex court order relating to the nominated MLAs should be complied with.

"It is still a big question whether the LG could fix a condition while making her recommendation for reconvening of the House to the Speaker," he said.