Process for formation of Legislative Council begins in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jan 2:

The process for constitution of a State Legislative Council began in Odisha with a meeting held in this regard here today.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs minister Bikram Keshari Arukh said the state government has decided to constitute a State Legislative Council following a demand to this effect by people from various sections of society.

He said the meeting decided to form a five-member legislators’ committee, which will tour the states which already have Legislative Councils this month to study their functioning.

The committee, after the visit, will submit a report to the state government after which a gazette notification to this effect would be issued, he said.

Among others, secretaries of Parliamentary Affairs and State Assembly were present at the meeting.

As per the provision of the Constitution, the Legislative Council would be formed only after two-third members of the State Assembly lend their support in its favour.

Less than one-third of the number of members of the State Assembly can be the member of the Legislative Council. However, their number should not be less than 40.

As per the decision, the total number of members in the Odisha Legislative Council would be 49. Out of the 49 members, one-third of members would be elected by the Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Zilla Parishads, one-third by the members of the Legislative Assembly and one-twelfth from education sector, while one-sixth from the field of Literature, Science, Art, Cooperation and Social Service would be nominated by the Governor.

While Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh have Legislative Councils, the Union Cabinet, in a meeting on November 28 last year, has approved the formation of a Legislative Council in Assam.