Name the States that have legislative councils and give atleast two reasons, why legislative councils are necessary.
Answers
Answer:
India has a bicameral system i.e., two Houses of Parliament. At the state level, the equivalent of the Lok Sabha is the Vidhan Sabha or Legislative Assembly; that of the Rajya Sabha is the Vidhan Parishad or Legislative Council. A second House of legislature is considered important for two reasons: one, to act as a check on hasty actions by the popularly elected House and, two, to ensure that individuals who might not be cut out for the rough-and-tumble of direct elections too are able to contribute to the legislative process.
Opposition to the idea of Legislative Councils is centred on three broad arguments. One, they can be used to park leaders who have not been able to win an election. Two, they can be used to delay progressive legislation. Three, they would strain state finances.
Opinion in the Constituent Assembly was divided on the question of having a Legislative Council. The idea was backed on the above grounds; it was also suggested that having a second chamber would allow for more debate and sharing of work between the Houses.
So, do all states have Legislative Councils?
No. Our constitution does not force a bicameral legislature on states. It gives states the option of having a second House. As of today, seven states have Legislative Councils. These are Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The creation of a Legislative Council in Tamil Nadu has been a contentious issue in the state’s politics for the last 25 years. Under Article 169 of the constitution, Parliament may by law create or abolish the second chamber in a state if the Legislative Assembly of that state passes a resolution to that effect by a special majority. In 1986, the Tamil Nadu Assembly, with the AIADMK in majority, passed a resolution abolishing the second chamber. The DMK and AIADMK have wrestled on the issue ever since — with the last DMK attempt to restore the Legislative Council coming in 2010, when Parliament enacted the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council Act, 2010.
However, the AIADMK returned to power before the Council could be constituted, and the Assembly passed a resolution withdrawing the 2010 decision. To give effect to the Assembly’s resolution, there is a Bill pending in Parliament to repeal the law that formed the Council.
Andhra Pradesh had a Legislative Council from 1958, abolished it in 1985, and reconstituted it in 2007.
Proposals to create Legislative Councils in Rajasthan and Assam are pending in Parliament. In 2010, MLAs in Assam unanimously passed a resolution for the creation of a Council. Rajasthan MLAs passed a similar resolution in 2012. The Standing Committee examining these Bills endorsed the creation of Upper Houses in both states. It also recommended that the central government evolve a national policy for the creation of second chambers in state legislatures.
How much money is needed to set up a Legislative Council?
Requirements would differ from state to state. Rajasthan told the Standing Committee that approximately Rs 100 crore would be required; Assam quoted a one-time expenditure of Rs 68.88 crore, and a recurring annual expenditure of Rs 19.28 crore.
States have a Legislative Council.They are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Reason....
A second House of legislature is considered important for two reasons: one, to act as a check on hasty actions by the popularly elected House and, two, to ensure that individuals who might not be cut out for the rough-and-tumble of direct elections too are able to contribute to the legislative process.
Hope it will help you....