A move is being contemplated by the Kiran Kumar Reddy government to confine the ensuing winter session of the Assembly beginning December 12 for just three days and convene another session after the President refers the draft Bill on Telangana to the legislature for its opinion.
As of now, the government wants to go through the motion of fulfilling the constitutional obligation of holding the session within six months of the last sitting. As the last session concluded on June 21, the winter session is due from December 20.
Highly placed sources said Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and the PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana reportedly discussed strategy for the winter session and favoured that the deliberations be held from December 12 to 14 on issues relating to cyclone, floods and irrigation sector.
Separate sessionThe bifurcation Bill could be discussed at a separate session later this month depending on the timeframe fixed by the President to return the legislation. However, it is for Business Advisory Committee, which is meeting on Wednesday to decide the duration but it will have little leeway if the government insists on a brief session.
The draft Bill is now with the Rashtrapati Bhavan as it has been referred to the President by the Union Cabinet. The President, now in South Africa to attend the memorial service of Nelson Mandela, is expected back in India on Wednesday, which means that draft Bill is unlikely to come to the Assembly when the session commences.
It is not clear whether the President will refer Bill to Governor or the Chief Secretary as there is no well laid down procedure.
In all probability, he could refer it to the Governor who, in turn, will ask the Chief Minister and the Speaker to take forward the process of seeking the legislature’s opinion.
If the Bill is referred to the Assembly when the session is on, the Speaker would make an announcement and follow it up with a BAC meeting, which will decide the dates for debate.
