The budget session of the Legislative Assembly will commence on September 8. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy will present budget proposals of the Union Territory in the Assembly.
In a press note, S.Mohandass, Secretary, said “The Legislative Assembly of Puducherry will assemble at 9.30 a.m on September 8 (Monday) at the Assembly hall.”
The last session of the Legislative Assembly commenced on March 12 and ended on the same day. As per the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Legislative Assembly has to be convened before expiry of six months since last session held. The Assembly should be convened before the September 12 or otherwise a constitutional crisis will arise. The Government of Union Territories Act 1963, says, “The administrator shall, from time to time, summon the Legislative Assembly to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session.”
In recent weeks, the government had been under Opposition fire for delaying the convening of the Assembly. The Opposition had demanded that the government tender an explanation for the delay and urged immediate commencement of Legislative Assembly.
Some of political parties even wondered if the government would be able to pass the budget proposals at all.
As the schedule for the April 24 parliamentary polls was announced, the Chief Minister in March presented an interim budget in view of the model code of conduct in place and sought allocation of funds for the first six months of the fiscal 2014-2015.
Now, the Chief Minister has to present full budget for the 2014-15.
The budget proposals will be discussed by MLAs and passed.