Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has landed Legislative Council Chairman A. Chakrapani and Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar in a piquant situation by furnishing copies of the proceedings followed in UP and Bihar legislatures during debate on bifurcation.
The proceedings of UP Legislative Assembly and Council and Bihar legislature, copies of which are available with The Hindu, clearly lays down the procedure followed during bifurcation of the two States. A resolution was tabled in the legislatures of the two States and more importantly, the members demanded voting during debate on various clauses and sought amendments. Mr. Reddy’s intention in sending the copies to the presiding officers is to make them take a close look and adhere to the same procedure here while taking up the debate on AP Reorganisation Bill-2013 with emphasis on voting on amendments and clauses.
'Several changes were sought by members in UP, Bihar'
As for procedure per se followed in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly during the debate on the Bill in April 2000, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs tabled a resolution after which the views of the members were sought. Then when the Bill was debated later several amendments were suggested by the members and they were put to voting.
Interestingly, the debate in Uttar Pradesh legislature saw members seeking amendment on capital of Uttaranchal, demand for creation of Bundelkhand and Vananchal and strong opposition to inclusion of some districts in Uttaranchal State. In all 29 amendments were put to voting during the debate.
In Bihar too during the debate on its bifurcation, several amendments were put to voting and the two Houses rejected the Bihar Reorganisation Bill 1998. The Bihar legislature urged the President that in the larger interest of the country and the State, he should not recommend the presentation of the Bill to Parliament. The presiding officers in their observations hoped that the President would be kind enough to impress upon the Centre to fully respect the conclusion of the legislature.
