In a sudden move, the centre has recommended to President to prorogue the budget session of Parliament. The rare move was taken to enable the central government to issue an ordinance authorising expenditure in Uttarakhand in next financial year beginning from April 01.
Uttarakhand is under Presidents’ rule due to political crisis following a rebellion by Congress MLAs against former Chief Minister Harish Rawat.
With only two days left, government would not have been in a position to issue an Ordinance for drawing funds from the Consolidated Fund to enable the state to meet its expenditure needs beyond of 1st April.
Official media reported the decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
As per reports, after the CCPA meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu met President Pranab Mukherejee to brief him about the decision taken in the CCPA as well as developments that took place in Uttarakhand.
Rajnath Singh & M. Venkaiah Naidu with officials of home, law & justice ministries in New Delhi on March 29, 2016.
Both the houses were adjourned on March 16 to meet again on April 25 in the second part of the budget session.
The centre took the decision to prorogue the budget session as questions were being raised over the status of the Appropriation Bill which was declared as passed by the Speaker in the Uttarakhand Assembly under controversial circumstances.
Under Article 357 of the Constitution, when the lower house of Indian parliament is not in session, the President can authorisethe expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of the State pending the sanction of such expenditure by Parliament.
The CCPA meet also gave its nod for prorogation of Rajya Sabha to enable re-issuing the Ordinance bringing changes in the Enemy Property Act, 1968, which is pending in the Upper House after being passed by the Lok Sabha.
The Ordinance for amendments in the Act was promulgated on January 8 this year. The Bill to replace the Ordinance was passed by Lok Sabha on March 9.However, it could not get Rajya Sabha’s nod and the Bill was finally referred to a Select Committee.
