The Karnataka Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which envisages splitting the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), is likely to get stuck with the select committee of the Legislative Council if it is referred to it.
Interestingly, the Council on Monday is likely to set a new precedent by referring the Bill, which was passed in the Assembly, to the select committee, for the first time. So far, a Bill, which was passed in the Assembly, has not been referred to the committee of the Upper House, a senior member of the Council told The Hindu .
The government made a futile bid to convince leaders of the BJP and the JD(S) in the Council to give up their demand that the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2015, be referred to the committee.
Congress leaders accused Opposition of creating a ‘bad precedent’ in the history of the Upper House.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah argued he has not come across a case where the Opposition referred a Bill passed in the Assembly to the select committee in the Council in his three-decade-long career as legislator.
However, there had been instances of Bills being defeated in the Council and sent back to the Assembly.
A Bill can be referred to the committee under Rule 116 of the Upper House. Former Council Chairman B.K. Chandrashekar said the Council has all powers to refer the Bill to the committee though “the motive of such a move is purely political”. The Opposition would be in majority in the committee though it would be headed by Minister for Law and Parliamentary affairs T.B. Jayachandra, who tabled the Bill in the legislature, hence it may be difficult for the government to get a favourable report from the committee.
As per rules, the committee should submit its report within three months. If it fails to do so, then the Assembly can pass the Bill again in the next session without passing it in the Council to become a law.
