Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal Pradesh Budget Session in Two Phases; Governor’s Address on February 16
The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Budget Session will begin on February 16 with the Governor’s Address and is likely to be held in two phases due to ongoing Budget preparations following the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant.
The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Budget Session will begin on February 16 with the Governor’s Address and is likely to be held in two phases due to ongoing Budget preparations following the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant.
Shimla: The Budget session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha is likely to be held in two phases, beginning with the Governor’s Address on February 16, Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Pathania said here on Tuesday.
Pathania said the first phase of the session would last three days — February 16, 17 and 18 — and will open with the customary address by Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla.
“As per the tentative business conveyed by the state government, the session is proposed to be held for three days initially. The second phase will follow as preparation of the Budget may take some time,” the Speaker said.
He added that a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s Address would be taken up during the first phase.
Since this will be the first Assembly session of the year, the proceedings will begin with the Governor’s Address, followed by obituary references to former members of the House who have passed away since the last winter session. Legislative business and the passage of Bills will follow.
Pathania said the detailed business from the state government was still awaited.
“In the changed scenario arising out of the 16th Finance Commission’s recommendation to discontinue the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), preparation of the Budget for the next financial year may take additional time,” he said.
He also noted that only a limited number of questions had been received from legislators so far as the notification for the session was issued just two days ago.
“Hopefully, members will submit more questions in the coming days,” he added.
The Speaker further said the state government had sought to convene a one-day special session of the Assembly to discuss the implications of the RDG withdrawal, but the Governor declined the request. Consequently, the government decided to proceed with the Budget session in the normal course.
