Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: Determined to present and pass the general budget before imposition of Model Code of Conduct for Lok Sabha elections, the Government today got a “rush through calendar” issued by the Assembly for budget session of the Legislature, which would last 25 days and have 21 sittings with a couple of Sundays also listed as the working days.
This, according to official sources, has been done to get the budget passed on February 25 as the Election Commission was likely to impose Model Code of Conduct either in the last week of February or first week of March.
As per the provisional calendar, the Assembly session would start on February 10 with Governor’s Address to joint session of Legislature and conclude on March 6.
Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather will present the budget for 2014-15 on February 13.
Out of 21 sitting, 12 days would have double sittings.
Only one and a half days have been listed for debate on Motion of Thanks to Governor’s Address and budget respectively.
On February 11 and 12, there would be discussion on Motion of Thanks to Governor’s Address followed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s reply.
On February 15 and 16, there would be discussion on the budget followed by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather’s reply.
The budget of different departments would be debated on February 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24.
The budget (Appropriation bill) would be passed on February 25.
On February 26 and March 4, the Assembly would take up Private Members’ Resolutions while February 28 and March 6 have been listed for the Government business.
The Private Members’ Bill would be taken up on March 3 and March 5.
Generally, the Governor’s Address and budget is debated for at least three days while budget of different departments is debated for 12 to 13 days as against eight days fixed in the upcoming session.
Sources said this would be 11th session of the 11th Legislative Assembly and last budget session of present National Conference-Congress coalition Government as Assembly elections were due in the State in November-December this year.
A brief session of the Legislature could be held in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, before Model Code of Conduct is imposed for the Assembly elections.
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