Working of Gujarat Assembly – An Analysis 8th session (24.02.2011 to 30.03.2011) Prepared By Gujarat Social Watch C/O Paryavaran Mitra 502, Raj Avenue, Bhaikakanagar road, Thaltej, Ahmedabad - 380059 Tele - 079-26851321, 079-26851801 email - [email protected] website- www.paryavaranmitra.org.in 1 Index Content Page 1 Accountability of People’s Representatives by 3 Mahesh Pandya 2 Gujarat Legislative Assembly 4 3 12 th Gujarat Assembly 5 4 Working of 8 th Session (24.02.2012 to 30.03.2011) 7 • Time consumed in different activities • Government Bills • Non-Govt. Bills • Resolutions (Govt./Non-Govt.) • Different Motions • Discussion on Governor’s speech • Discussion on Budget • Other Details 5 Questions in Assembly 11 6 Starred Questions 13 No of questions from different departments MLAs raised more questions MLAs raised no questions Dept with more & less questions Category wise distribution of starred questions Participation of Women MLA in question hour Participation of SC MLA in question hour Participation of members of minority in question hour Participation of ST MLA in question hour Starred Questions - Geographical Overview 7 Un-starred Questions – department wise 23 8 Motions in the Legislative Assembly 25 9 Presence of MLAs in house 27 10 Participation of MLA in discussion in House 28 11 Performance of MLAs 29-35 2 Accountability of People’s representatives Democracy has been defined as a governing system of the people for the people and by the people. It is thought that the elected representatives of the people right from the Grampanchayat level to the parliament carry out procedure to provide legal shape to the people’s issues. The laws enacted for the welfare of the citizens of the country, nation at large and also the world at a larger scale is later formed as rules and regulations for implementation. If these laws enacted by the Legislation assembly and according to the constitutional provisions are violated the judiciary system steps in to take action on its face this democratic system in the country is ideal but the political parties leave no table unturned to exploit and misuse this system and it seems as if autocracy/monarchy is the rule of the land. No doubt, we in an attempt to raise aware citizens have lessons an democratic systems included in the school text books at primary education level and also at the secondary education level but the education system being examination-oriented these lessons are carried no further than text-book material. The further citizens of the nation fail to grasp and carry the lessons to their adulthood. Consequently, educated adult citizens too have little knowledge or awareness regarding the role of Panchayat, legislative assembly and parliament in a democratic regime. It is necessary that citizen has awareness regarding how the democratic system works. Giving votes at the time of the elections is not the only duty of an aware citizen. A citizen also needs to be aware that not only the elected representative but a common citizen also can influence the procedure of the legislative assembly/parliament. Even if the state/nation is on a path of remarkable progress, it is necessary to have discussion and deliberations on all the people-related issues (be they beneficial for the state or otherwise) in the legislative assembly/parliament. It becomes duty of MLAs to fulfill the purpose of their having been elected and sent to legislative assembly/parliament and it is the duty of the citizens to see to it that their elected representatives fulfill their expectations. Does the legislative assembly/parliament fulfill the purpose for which it has been formed? This needs to be examined. Do the elected representatives know or have been trained to understand and participated in legislative assembly/parliament procedure? How many MLAs and ministers have participated or at least have remained present at the Legislative assembly /parliamentary sessions? These issues need to be verified. One needs to verify if the in-house majority of the ruling party members have not been manipulated to act as effectiveness also needs to be examined. Legislative assembly is an efficient platform to discuss the people’s issues and take decision regarding that. This study makes an attempt to examine the transparency and efficiency of the legislative assembly procedure, participation of MLAs and other related issues. This study shall be an attempt to generate awareness among people with a view to make the democracy truly people oriented. We wish to present before people the study of last year’s budget session so that people become third party capable to act as watch dogs of the Legislative assembly activities and elected representatives and make the elected representative answerable to the people. Mahesh Pandya 3 Gujarat Legislative Assembly • The State of Gujarat was formed by bifurcating the Greater Bombay State into Gujarat and Maharashtra on 1st May 1960 by an Act of Parliament called the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960. When the State of Gujarat came into being on 1 May 1960, the number of members in the First Gujarat Legislative Assembly was 132. • Thus the initial strength of the Assembly was 132. It was further increased to 154 in 1962, 168 in 1967 and 182 in 1975 with the gradual increase in the population and territorial revision of the Constituencies of the State. However, since 1975 the increase in the strength of the legislature has been stayed by constitutional amendments till 2025. • Out of the present 182 territorial constituencies, 13 constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 26 constituencies for Scheduled Tribes. • The Gujarat Legislature is unicameral. • Presently, the Twelfth Legislative Assembly consists of 182 members. The term of the Assembly is five years unless dissolved sooner. • There are 19 permanent Committees in the Assembly. Sittings of Gujarat Legislative Assembly: 1 st to 12 th Assembly sittings of Gujarat Legislative Assembly 350 312 300 264 245 240 250 215 208 200 165 154 150 133 118 110 100 84 Toatl sittings 50 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th Assembly 4 12 th Assembly – Member’s Detail Detail of Members of 12 th Gujarat Legislative Assembly (on dt.30.03.2012) Sr No Name of Party Members 1 Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) 122 2 Indian National Congress (INC) 54 3 Rastravadi congress party (NCP) 03 4 Janta Dal (United) 01 5 Independent 02 Total 182 Members -182 03 02 Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) 122 01 Indian National Congress (INC) 54 54 Rastravadi congress party (NCP) 03 122 Janta Dal (United) 01 12 th Assembly – Detail of sittings Independent 02 MLA - Reserve Seats MLA – Gender Ratio 200 182 180 Total 182 166 160 140 120 ST 26 100 80 60 40 SC 13 16 20 0 0 50 100 150 200 Male Female Total 5 Sittings of 12 th Assembly Session No. of sittings Time Period 1 21 18/01/2008 to 18/01/2008 25/02/2008 to 26/03/2008 2 03 25/09/2008 to 29/09/2008 3 08 17/02/2009 to 27/02/2009 4 24 29/06/2009 to 29/07/2009 5 03 17/12/2009 to 19/12/2009 6 27 24/02/2010 to 30/03/2010 7 02 06/09/2010 to 07/09/2010 8 30 24/02/2011 to 30/03/2011 No. of Sittings of 12th assembly No. of Sittings 35 27 30 30 24 25 21 20 15 8 10 Noof sittings 3 3 2 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 th Working of 8 Session • The eighth session commenced on Thursday, the 24th February, 2011 and the session concluded on 30 th March, 2011. • During 8 th session, House sat for 24 days and total 30 sittings and transacted its business for 112 hours and 47 Minutes. • Average working of house - 3 hours 45 minutes/sitting. Time consumed in different activities No Subject Hrs Minute % 1 Questioning 21 8 18.74 2 Bills (a) Government bills 21 57 19.47 (b) Non-government bills 0 12 0.18 3 Discussion on Budget 49 10 43.59 4 Motions/Proposals (a) Motion for Adjournment of the house - - - (b) Motion expressing want of confidence in the ministry (c)Other Motions - Govt, Non-Govt & other motions 0 23 0.34 5 Discussion on the Governor's speech 7 10 6.35 6 Non Government Resolutions 1 48 1.60 Discussion on working of Statutory 7 boards - - - Discussion on Reports of legislative 8 committees and on other reports 0 24 0.35 9 Other matters 10 35 9.38 Total 112 47 100% Time Spent in different activities (in %) 7 Government Bills During the session, 30 Government Bills were admitted in the house. (The Governor sent back one bill for review of the house) 31 government bills were presented for first, second and third reading and passed after discussion. During the session, 31 Government Bills were passed by the House. 19.74% time used for government bills. No of Bills passed in Assembly 35 30 25 20 15 31 10 18 5 7 5 0 Bills correcting New Bills (07) Other Bills (05) Total (31) existing laws of the state of Gujarat (18) No of Bills passed in Assembly during budget session Bills – Subject wise list Bills related to financial matters – 07 Bills related to public services – 19 Bills related to education – 03 Other Bills – 02 Bills received from the governor were put on the table of the house.sanctioned Following bills ware passed by the House during the session 8 Non-Government Bills • Time devoted – 12 minutes – 0.18% • Total 8 bills were admitted during the session.