Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 10: Budget session of the Legislature would start from third week of February next year and conclude either in the last week of March or first week of April depending upon the schedule of business. The session would have around 25 to 26 sittings.
Legislative Assembly Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone told the Excelsior that the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry and the Assembly Secretariat in consultations with the Government has decided to go for budget session of the Legislature by the end of third week or start of last week of February 2013.
“It would be a very hectic session with all Departments of the Government being debated and discussed’’, Mr Lone said, adding that the budget session would have at least 25 to 26 sittings and could last till the end of March or first week of April.
The Cabinet would take a decision on the session in the middle of January and send the proposal to Governor NN Vohra for issuance of notification a month ahead of the session, Mr Lone said.
It may be mentioned here that under the Constitution, a month’s time was required between issuance of notification by the Governor summoning both Houses of Legislature and his Joint Address to the two Houses, leading to beginning of the session.
Mr Lone said the Government has shelved the proposal of seven to 10 days break in the budget session, like Parliament, as both the Houses had to pass the budget on or before March 31.
“If we take a break of seven to 10 days, the entire schedule is upset and the session gets extended to April. In such a scenario, the House won’t be able to pass the budget on or before March 31, leading to Constitutional crisis’’, the Speaker said, adding that “it was in this context that the Government has decided to stick to the schedule of completing the budget session without a break.
Official sources said the Government would take the date of budget presentation into account while taking a final call on the date of Governor’s Address to joint session of the Legislature.
The budget could be presented in first week of March, sources said, adding that budget preparations have already been set into motion to ensure its timely completion.
In the budget session, two days each would be fixed for private member’s resolutions and private member’s bills in addition to discussion on the Governor’s Address to joint session of Legislature followed by the reply of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, budget and all Departments held by various Ministers followed by their reply.
As this would be second last session of present National Conference-Congress coalition Government, it was expected to be hectic with Opposition parties stepping up attack on the Government on various fronts, sources said.
However, they added that the Government wouldn’t shy away and take up challenge of the Opposition boldly.
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