The Hindu : Front Page : Joint House panel on Telangana likely to comprise 20 members

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Monday, Feb 16, 2009
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Joint House panel on Telangana likely to comprise 20 members

Representatives from all three regions may find place on the panel

Chairman’s term initially will be three months, but it could be extended
Terms of reference to be fixed in line with the government’s thinking

HYDERABAD: The proposed joint committee comprising members of the Legislative Assembly and Council to deliberate on issues and concerns relating to Telangana is likely to have 20 members.

While the composition of the committee has not yet been finalised, there are enough indications that it will be a large panel, giving representation to all the three regions, for resolving “serious concerns raised by stakeholders.”

Term may be extended

Given the sensitivity of the subject involved, the proposed joint House panel is likely to have 20 members, unlike the conventional ones with 10 members.

A senior member of the ruling Congress from Telangana may head the panel whose term initially will be three months, but could be extended, sources in the Legislature Secretariat said.

Chief Minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy had announced the formation of the committee in the Assembly on February 12.

Further steps could be taken after the report from the Joint Committee is submitted to the government.

Sources maintained that absence of mention of the Speaker or Chairman in the Chief Minister’s statement was indicative that the panel would be an initiative of the government and so its constitution and terms of reference would also be fixed in line with the government’s thinking.

Consultative set-up

This would, in turn, mean that the Speaker and the Chairman would be part of the consultative mechanism rather than in their regular roles as convenors of the panel meetings.

The only joint House committee constituted so far in the history of the State Legislature is the one headed by the Legislative Council Chairman A. Chakrapani with 12 members from both the Houses to study the problems of Telugu speaking people residing in other States.

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