Autumn session in Sept’s second half
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 17: As the Government geared up to hold autumn session of the Legislature in second half of September, most likely from September 18 onwards, Legislative Assembly Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone has decided to meet Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take up with him the issue of holding three sessions of the Legislature in a year.
“We are meeting soon. I may take up the issue of holding three sessions of the Legislature in a year with the Chief Minister. I will give my suggestion but ultimately it was up to the Government to take a decision on holding two or three sessions of the Legislature in a year’’, Mr Lone told the Excelsior.
He indicated that autumn session of the Legislature was expected to be held in the second half of September, most likely on September 18 or 20 in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State.
The issue of holding three sessions of the Legislature in a year, instead of the practice of only two sessions a year at present, has been raging on for past couple of years with Omar himself stating on floor of the House during budget session in 2010 that the Government would explore possibilities of raising number of sessions in a year from two to three.
“I personally feel there should be three sessions of the Legislature in a year so that the legislators could get maximum chance to raise their issues and grievances. Moreover, there has been a commitment to this effect from the Chief Minister himself on floor of the House’’, Mr Lone said.
However, he added, that the Government too has its own limitations as the Legislature session involved a lost of expenditure, involvement of Government and administration for more than a month etc.
He was confident that the Chief Minister would take a decision on holding third session of the Legislature soon in consultations with the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry and the Legislative Assembly and Council Secretariat.
On second session of the Legislature this year, Mr Lone said under the Constitutional requirement, there can’t be a gap of maximum six months between the two sessions. As budget session of the Legislature had concluded on April 4 in Jammu, the Government can convene autumn session by October 4.
However, the autumn session was likely to be held in second half of September, most likely from September 18 or 20 onwards, he said, adding that final dates of the session would be communicated by the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry to the State Cabinet for final approval in the month of August.
A notification for the session had to be issued one month in advance. The Assembly Secretariat would issue calendar of the session within a couple of days of the notification.
The Speaker said it would be a short duration session not lasting more than 10 sittings. Earlier also, the Legislature session in Srinagar used to be of short duration. With eight to 10 sitting covered in 12 to 15 days.
In the short duration session, the legislators can submit five questions each in starred and un-starred category, totaling 10 besides two private member’s resolutions and two private member’s bills each.
The Speaker said he would call leaders of all political parties ahead of the session to seek their cooperation for holding smooth session of the Legislature.
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