Legislative Councils
Posted on : 26 Feb 2020
Views: 1190- India has a bicameral system i.e. two Houses of Parliament- theUpper House (RajyaSabha) and the lower House in (LokSabha).
- At the state level, the equivalent of the RajyaSabha is the Legislative Council (VidhanParishad) and that of LokSabha is the Legislative Assembly (VidhanSabha).
- The Constitution of India does not force a bicameral legislature on states. It allows states the option of having a second House.
- The State Assembly has to pass a resolution for the creation of the Council by a majority of its total membership.
- Thereafter, the Parliament (under Article 169) has the power to create or abolish the Legislative Council on the basis of a resolution adopted by the special majority in the Assembly of the concerned State.
- A second house—a state legislative council (VidhanParishad), with unelected members—has always been a point of contention throughout history.
- Assam was the first state to abolish its state legislative council. The state passed a resolution for the same in 1947.
- After Assam, West Bengal had abolished its legislative council in 1969 and Punjab abolished it in 1970.
- The Andhra Pradesh legislative council, with 58 members, was first abolished in 1985. It was revived in March 2007.
- As of today, five states have Legislative Councils: Telangana, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
- Jammu and Kashmir had a Council until the state was bifurcated into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
Article Related Questions
-
Consider the following statements
1.Under Article 169 of the Constitution of India, the state can establish Legislative Councils.
2.Seven Indian states have Legislative Councils.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
1.1 only
2.2 only
3.Both 1 and 2
4.Neither 1 nor 2
Right Ans : 1 only
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