Considering the spike in COVID-19 cases in the State during the past fortnight, the Cabinet is likely to recommend the postponement of the Assembly session scheduled on July 27.
The one-day session was set to be convened as per the COVID-19 protocol for passing the Kerala Finance Bill.
Government sources told The Hindu that the Cabinet meeting on Thursday would take stock of the current health crisis and recommend Governor Arif Mohammed Khan to repeal the order issued for convening the session and also clear a draft Ordinance for amending the Kerala Provisional Collection of Revenues Act, 1985.
This would help the government to secure more time, 120 or 180 days, as per the Cabinet decision, to collect taxes without passing the Bill.
The virus spread is a convincing reason for deferring the session too. The Governor, after repealing the order issued for convening the session, will have to clear the Ordinance.
Constitutional norms
As per Constitutional provisions, the Assembly should meet once in six months. The last session concluded on March 13. Hence, the government would have to convene the next session on or before September 12 to fulfil the requirement.
On promulgating the Ordinance, the government would get a breather to collect the tax and also convening the session.
Opposition move
Since the Opposition United Democratic Front has already given notice for a no-trust motion against the government in the wake of the gold smuggling case, any decision to defer the session will trigger a political row.
The UDF may portray the decision as a government attempt to stave off the motion, but the latter can defend itself by citing the COVID-19 spread.
