jbp123/hello · Datasets at Hugging Face

instruction stringlengths 1 84	input stringlengths 1 85	output stringlengths 1 83
governor is authorised to dissolve the assembly at any time (i.e., even	before the completion of five years) to pave the way for fresh	elections.
Further, the term of the assembly can be extended during the	period of national emergency by a law of Parliament for one year at a	time (for any length of time). However, this extension cannot continue
beyond a period of six months after the emergency has ceased to	operate. This means that the assembly should be re-elected within six	months after the revocation of emergency.
Duration of Council	Like the Rajya Sabha, the legislative council is a continuing chamber,	that is, it is a permanent body and is not subject to dissolution. But,
one-third of its members retire on the expiration of every second year.	So, a member continues as such for six years. The vacant seats are	filled up by fresh elections and nominations (by governor) at the
MEMBERSHIP OF STATE LEGISLATURE	1. Qualifications	The Constitution lays down the following qualifications for a person to
be chosen a member of the state legislature.	(a) He must be a citizen of India.	(b) He must make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation before the
person authorised by the Election Commission for this purpose.	In his oath or affirmation, he swears	(i) To bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India
(ii) To uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India	(c) He must be not less than 30 years of age in the case of the	legislative council and not less than 25 years of age in the case
of the legislative assembly.	(d) He must posses other qualifications prescribed by Parliament.	Accordingly, the Parliament has laid down the following additional
qualifications in the Representation of People Act (1951):	(a) A person to be elected to the legislative council must be an	elector for an assembly constituency in the concerned state and
to be qualified for the governor’s nomination, he must be a	resident in the concerned state.	(b) A person to be elected to the legislative assembly must be an
elector for an assembly constituency in the concerned state.	(c) He must be a member of a scheduled caste or scheduled tribe if	he wants to contest a seat reserved for them. However, a
member of scheduled castes or scheduled tribes can also	contest a seat not reserved for them.	2. Disqualifications
Under the Constitution, a person shall be disqualified for being chosen	as and for being a member of the legislative assembly or legislative	council of a state:
(a) if he holds any office of profit under the Union or state	government (except that of a minister or any other office	exempted by state legislature9 ),
(d) if he is not a citizen of India or has voluntarily acquired the	citizenship of a foreign state or is under any acknowledgement of	allegiance to a foreign state, and
(e) if he is so disqualified under any law made by Parliament.	Accordingly, the Parliament has prescribed a number of additional	disqualifications in the Representation of People Act (1951). These
are similar to those for Parliament. These are mentioned here:	1. He must not have been found guilty of certain election offences	or corrupt practices in the elections.
2. He must not have been convicted for any offence resulting in	imprisonment for two or more years. But, the detention of a	person under a preventive detention law is not a disqualification.
3. He must not have failed to lodge an account of his election	expenses within the time.	4. He must not have any interest in government contracts, works or
services.	5. He must not be a director or managing agent nor hold an office	of profit in a corporation in which the government has at least 25
per cent share.	6. He must not have been dismissed from government service for	corruption or disloyalty to the state.
7. He must not have been convicted for promoting enmity between	different groups or for the offence of bribery.	8. He must not have been punished for preaching and practicing
social crimes such as untouchability, dowry and sati.	On the question whether a member has become subject to any of	the above disqualifications, the governor’s decision is final. However,
he should obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and act	accordingly.	Disqualification on Ground of Defection
The Constitution also lays down that a person shall be disqualified for	being a member of either House of state legislature if he is so	disqualified on the ground of defection under the provisions of the
Tenth Schedule.	The question of disqualification under the Tenth Schedule is	decided by the Chairman, in the case of legislative council and,
Speaker, in the case of legislative assembly (and not by the governor).	In 1992, the Supreme Court ruled that the decision of	Chairman/Speaker in this regard is subject to judicial review10 .
3. Oath or Affirmation	Every member of either House of state legislature, before taking his	seat in the House, has to make and subscribe an oath or affirmation
before the governor or some person appointed by him for this	purpose.	In this oath, a member of the state legislature swears:
(a) to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India;	(b) to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India; and	(c) to faithfully discharge the duty of his office.
Unless a member takes the oath, he cannot vote and participate in	the proceedings of the House and does not become eligible to the	privileges and immunities of the state legislature.
A person is liable to a penalty of ₹500 for each day he sits or votes	as a member in a House:	(a) before taking and subscribing the prescribed oath or affirmation;
or	(b) when he knows that he is not qualified or that he is disqualified	for its membership; or
(c) when he knows that he is prohibited from sitting or voting in the	House by virtue of any law made by Parliament or the state	legislature.
Members of a state legislature are entitled to receive such salaries	and allowances as may from time to time be determined by the state	legislature.
4. Vacation of Seats	In the following cases, a member of the state legislature vacates his	seat:
(a) Double Membership: A person cannot be a member of both	Houses of state legislature at one and the same time. If a person	is elected to both the Houses, his seat in one of the Houses falls
vacant as per the provisions of a law made by the state	legislature.	(b) Disqualification: If a member of the state legislature becomes
subject to any of the disqualifications, his seat becomes vacant.	(c) Resignation: A member may resign his seat by writing to the	Chairman of legislative council or Speaker of legislative
(d) Absence: A House of the state legislature can declare the seat of	a member vacant if he absents himself from all its meeting for a	period of sixty days without its permission.
(e) Other Cases: A member has to vacate his seat in the either	House of state legislature,	(i) if his election is declared void by the court,
(ii) if he is expelled by the House,	(iii) if he is elected to the office of president or office of vice-presid	and
PRESIDING OFFICERS OF STATE LEGISLATURE	Each House of state legislature has its own presiding officer. There is	a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker for the legislative assembly and a
Chairman and a Deputy Chairman for the legislative council. A panel	of chairman for the assembly and a panel of vice-chairman for the	council is also appointed.
Speaker of Assembly	The Speaker is elected by the assembly itself from amongst its	members.
Usually, the Speaker remains in office during the life of the	assembly. However, he vacates his office earlier in any of the following	three cases:
1. if he ceases to be a member of the assembly;	2. if he resigns by writing to the deputy speaker; and	3. if he is removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the
then members of the assembly. Such a resolution can be moved	only after giving 14 days advance notice.	The Speaker has the following powers and duties:
1. He maintains order and decorum in the assembly for conducting	its business and regulating its proceedings. This is his primary	responsibility and he has final power in this regard.
2. He is the final interpreter of the provisions of (a) the Constitution	of India, (b) the rules of procedure and conduct of business of	assembly, and (c) the legislative precedents, within the
assembly.	3. He adjourns the assembly or suspends the meeting in the	absence of a quorum.
4. He does not vote in the first instance. But, he can exercise a	casting vote in the case of a tie.	5. He can allow a ‘secret’ sitting of the House at the request of the
leader of the House.	6. He decides whether a bill is a Money Bill or not and his decision	on this question is final.
7. He decides the questions of disqualification of a member of the	assembly, arising on the ground of defection under the	provisions of the Tenth Schedule.
8. He appoints the chairman of all the committees of the assembly	and supervises their functioning. He himself is the chairman of	the Business Advisory Committee, the Rules Committee and the
General Purpose Committee.	Deputy Speaker of Assembly	Like the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker is also elected by the assembly
itself from amongst its members. He is elected after the election of the	Speaker has taken place.	Like the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker remains in office usually
during the life of the assembly. However, he also vacates his office	earlier in any of the following three cases:	1. if he ceases to be a member of the assembly;
2. if he resigns by writing to the speaker; and	3. if he is removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the	then members of the assembly. Such a resolution can be moved
only after giving 14 days’ advance notice.	The Deputy Speaker performs the duties of the Speaker’s office	when it is vacant. He also acts as the Speaker when the latter is
absent from the sitting of assembly. In both the cases, he has all the	powers of the Speaker.	The Speaker nominates from amongst the members a panel of
chairman. Any one of them can preside over the assembly in the	absence of the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker. He has the same	powers as the speaker when so presiding. He holds office until a new
panel of chairman is nominated.	Chairman of Council	The Chairman is elected by the council itself from amongst its
members.	The Chairman vacates his office in any of the following three cases:	1. if he ceases to be a member of the council;
2. if he resigns by writing to the deputy chairman; and	3. if he is removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the	then members of the council. Such a resolution can be moved
only after giving 14 days advance notice.	As a presiding officer, the powers and functions of the Chairman in	the council are similar to those of the Speaker in the assembly.
the Chairman. The Speaker decides whether a bill is a Money Bill or	not and his decision on this question is final.	The salaries and allowances of the Speaker and the Deputy
Speaker of the assembly and the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman	of the council are fixed by the state legislature. They are charged on	the Consolidated Fund of the State and thus are not subject to the
annual vote of the state legislature.	Deputy Chairman of Council	Like the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman is also elected by the council
itself from amongst its members.	The deputy chairman vacates his office in any of the following three	cases:
1. if he ceases to be a member of the council;	2. if he resigns by writing to the Chairman; and	3. if he is removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the
then members of the council. Such a resolution can be moved	only after giving 14 days advance notice.	The Deputy Chairman performs the duties of the Chairman’s office
when it is vacant. He also acts as the Chairman when the latter is	absent from the sitting of the council. In both the cases, he has all the	powers of the Chairman.
The Chairman nominates from amongst the members a panel of	vice-chairman. Any one of them can preside over the council in the	absence of the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman. He has the same
SESSIONS OF STATE LEGISLATURE	Summoning	The governor from time to time summons each House of state
legislature to meet. The maximum gap between the two sessions of	state legislature cannot be more than six months, ie, the state	legislature should meet at least twice a year. A session of the state
legislature consists of many sittings.	Adjournment	An adjournment suspends the work in a sitting for a specified time
which may be hours, days or weeks.	Adjournment sine die means terminating a sitting of the state	legislature for an indefinite period. The power of the adjournment as
well as adjournment sine die lies with the presiding officer of the	House.	Prorogation
The presiding officer (Speaker or Chairman) declares the House	adjourned sine die, when the business of the session is completed.	Within the next few days, the governor issues a notification for
prorogation of the session.	However, the governor can also prorogue the House which is in	session. Unlike an adjournment, a prorogation terminates a session of
the House.	Dissolution	The legislative council, being a permanent house, is not subject to
dissolution. Only the legislative assembly is subject to dissolution.	Unlike a prorogation, a dissolution ends the very life of the existing	House, and a new House is constituted after the general elections are
held.	The position with respect to lapsing of bills on the dissolution of the	assembly is mentioned below:
2. A Bill passed by the assembly but pending in the council lapses.	3. A Bill pending in the council but not passed by the assembly	does not lapse.
4. A Bill passed by the assembly (in a unicameral state) or passed	by both the houses (in a bicameral state) but pending assent of	the governor or the President does not lapse.
5. A Bill passed by the assembly (in a unicameral state) or passed	by both the Houses (in a bicameral state) but returned by the	president for reconsideration of House (s) does not lapse.
Quorum	Quorum is the minimum number of members required to be present in	the House before it can transact any business. It is ten members or
one-tenth of the total number of members of the House (including the	presiding officer), whichever is greater. If there is no quorum during a	meeting of the House, it is the duty of the presiding officer either to
adjourn the House or to suspend the meeting until there is a quorum.	Voting in House	All matters at any sitting of either House are decided by a majority of
votes of the members present and voting excluding the presiding	officer. Only a few matters which are specifically mentioned in the	Constitution like removal of the speaker of the assembly, removal of
the Chairman of the council and so on require special majority, not	ordinary majority. The presiding officer (i.e., Speaker in the case of	assembly or chairman in the case of council or the person acting as
such) does not vote in the first instance, but exercises a casting vote	in the case of an equality of votes.	Language in State Legislature
The Constitution has declared the official language(s) of the state or	Hindi or English, to be the languages for transacting business in the	state legislature. However, the presiding officer can permit a member
to address the House in his mother-tongue. The state legislature is	authorised to decide whether to continue or discontinue English as a	floor language after the completion of fifteen years from the
twenty-five years and that of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Mizoram, it	is forty years.	Rights of Ministers and Advocate General
In addition to the members of a House, every minister and the	advocate general of the state have the right to speak and take part in	the proceedings of either House or any of its committees of which he
is named a member, without being entitled to vote. There are two	reasons underlying this constitutional provision:	1. A minister can participate in the proceedings of a House, of

governor is authorised to dissolve the assembly at any time (i.e., even

before the completion of five years) to pave the way for fresh

elections.

Further, the term of the assembly can be extended during the

period of national emergency by a law of Parliament for one year at a

time (for any length of time). However, this extension cannot continue

beyond a period of six months after the emergency has ceased to

operate. This means that the assembly should be re-elected within six

months after the revocation of emergency.

Duration of Council

Like the Rajya Sabha, the legislative council is a continuing chamber,

that is, it is a permanent body and is not subject to dissolution. But,

one-third of its members retire on the expiration of every second year.

So, a member continues as such for six years. The vacant seats are

filled up by fresh elections and nominations (by governor) at the

MEMBERSHIP OF STATE LEGISLATURE

1. Qualifications

The Constitution lays down the following qualifications for a person to

be chosen a member of the state legislature.

(a) He must be a citizen of India.

(b) He must make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation before the

person authorised by the Election Commission for this purpose.

In his oath or affirmation, he swears

(i) To bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India

(ii) To uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India

(c) He must be not less than 30 years of age in the case of the

legislative council and not less than 25 years of age in the case

of the legislative assembly.

(d) He must posses other qualifications prescribed by Parliament.

Accordingly, the Parliament has laid down the following additional

qualifications in the Representation of People Act (1951):

(a) A person to be elected to the legislative council must be an

elector for an assembly constituency in the concerned state and

to be qualified for the governor’s nomination, he must be a

resident in the concerned state.

(b) A person to be elected to the legislative assembly must be an

elector for an assembly constituency in the concerned state.

(c) He must be a member of a scheduled caste or scheduled tribe if

he wants to contest a seat reserved for them. However, a

member of scheduled castes or scheduled tribes can also

contest a seat not reserved for them.

2. Disqualifications

Under the Constitution, a person shall be disqualified for being chosen

as and for being a member of the legislative assembly or legislative

council of a state:

(a) if he holds any office of profit under the Union or state

government (except that of a minister or any other office

exempted by state legislature9 ),

(d) if he is not a citizen of India or has voluntarily acquired the

citizenship of a foreign state or is under any acknowledgement of

allegiance to a foreign state, and

(e) if he is so disqualified under any law made by Parliament.

Accordingly, the Parliament has prescribed a number of additional

disqualifications in the Representation of People Act (1951). These

are similar to those for Parliament. These are mentioned here:

1. He must not have been found guilty of certain election offences

or corrupt practices in the elections.

2. He must not have been convicted for any offence resulting in

imprisonment for two or more years. But, the detention of a

person under a preventive detention law is not a disqualification.

3. He must not have failed to lodge an account of his election

expenses within the time.

4. He must not have any interest in government contracts, works or

services.

5. He must not be a director or managing agent nor hold an office

of profit in a corporation in which the government has at least 25

per cent share.

6. He must not have been dismissed from government service for

corruption or disloyalty to the state.

7. He must not have been convicted for promoting enmity between

different groups or for the offence of bribery.

8. He must not have been punished for preaching and practicing

social crimes such as untouchability, dowry and sati.

On the question whether a member has become subject to any of

the above disqualifications, the governor’s decision is final. However,

he should obtain the opinion of the Election Commission and act

accordingly.

Disqualification on Ground of Defection

The Constitution also lays down that a person shall be disqualified for

being a member of either House of state legislature if he is so

disqualified on the ground of defection under the provisions of the

Tenth Schedule.

The question of disqualification under the Tenth Schedule is

decided by the Chairman, in the case of legislative council and,

Speaker, in the case of legislative assembly (and not by the governor).

In 1992, the Supreme Court ruled that the decision of

Chairman/Speaker in this regard is subject to judicial review10 .

3. Oath or Affirmation

Every member of either House of state legislature, before taking his

seat in the House, has to make and subscribe an oath or affirmation

before the governor or some person appointed by him for this

purpose.

In this oath, a member of the state legislature swears:

(a) to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India;

(b) to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India; and

(c) to faithfully discharge the duty of his office.

Unless a member takes the oath, he cannot vote and participate in

the proceedings of the House and does not become eligible to the

privileges and immunities of the state legislature.

A person is liable to a penalty of ₹500 for each day he sits or votes

as a member in a House:

(a) before taking and subscribing the prescribed oath or affirmation;

or

(b) when he knows that he is not qualified or that he is disqualified

for its membership; or

(c) when he knows that he is prohibited from sitting or voting in the

House by virtue of any law made by Parliament or the state

legislature.

Members of a state legislature are entitled to receive such salaries

and allowances as may from time to time be determined by the state

legislature.

4. Vacation of Seats

In the following cases, a member of the state legislature vacates his

seat:

(a) Double Membership: A person cannot be a member of both

Houses of state legislature at one and the same time. If a person

is elected to both the Houses, his seat in one of the Houses falls

vacant as per the provisions of a law made by the state

legislature.

(b) Disqualification: If a member of the state legislature becomes

subject to any of the disqualifications, his seat becomes vacant.

(c) Resignation: A member may resign his seat by writing to the

Chairman of legislative council or Speaker of legislative

(d) Absence: A House of the state legislature can declare the seat of

a member vacant if he absents himself from all its meeting for a

period of sixty days without its permission.

(e) Other Cases: A member has to vacate his seat in the either

House of state legislature,

(i) if his election is declared void by the court,

(ii) if he is expelled by the House,

(iii) if he is elected to the office of president or office of vice-presid

and

PRESIDING OFFICERS OF STATE LEGISLATURE

Each House of state legislature has its own presiding officer. There is

a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker for the legislative assembly and a

Chairman and a Deputy Chairman for the legislative council. A panel

of chairman for the assembly and a panel of vice-chairman for the

council is also appointed.

Speaker of Assembly

The Speaker is elected by the assembly itself from amongst its

members.

Usually, the Speaker remains in office during the life of the

assembly. However, he vacates his office earlier in any of the following

three cases:

1. if he ceases to be a member of the assembly;

2. if he resigns by writing to the deputy speaker; and

3. if he is removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the

then members of the assembly. Such a resolution can be moved

only after giving 14 days advance notice.

The Speaker has the following powers and duties:

1. He maintains order and decorum in the assembly for conducting

its business and regulating its proceedings. This is his primary

responsibility and he has final power in this regard.

2. He is the final interpreter of the provisions of (a) the Constitution

of India, (b) the rules of procedure and conduct of business of

assembly, and (c) the legislative precedents, within the

assembly.

3. He adjourns the assembly or suspends the meeting in the

absence of a quorum.

4. He does not vote in the first instance. But, he can exercise a

casting vote in the case of a tie.

5. He can allow a ‘secret’ sitting of the House at the request of the

leader of the House.

6. He decides whether a bill is a Money Bill or not and his decision

on this question is final.

7. He decides the questions of disqualification of a member of the

assembly, arising on the ground of defection under the

provisions of the Tenth Schedule.

8. He appoints the chairman of all the committees of the assembly

and supervises their functioning. He himself is the chairman of

the Business Advisory Committee, the Rules Committee and the

General Purpose Committee.

Deputy Speaker of Assembly

Like the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker is also elected by the assembly

itself from amongst its members. He is elected after the election of the

Speaker has taken place.

Like the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker remains in office usually

during the life of the assembly. However, he also vacates his office

earlier in any of the following three cases:

1. if he ceases to be a member of the assembly;

2. if he resigns by writing to the speaker; and

3. if he is removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the

then members of the assembly. Such a resolution can be moved

only after giving 14 days’ advance notice.

The Deputy Speaker performs the duties of the Speaker’s office

when it is vacant. He also acts as the Speaker when the latter is

absent from the sitting of assembly. In both the cases, he has all the

powers of the Speaker.

The Speaker nominates from amongst the members a panel of

chairman. Any one of them can preside over the assembly in the

absence of the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker. He has the same

powers as the speaker when so presiding. He holds office until a new

panel of chairman is nominated.

Chairman of Council

The Chairman is elected by the council itself from amongst its

members.

The Chairman vacates his office in any of the following three cases:

1. if he ceases to be a member of the council;

2. if he resigns by writing to the deputy chairman; and

3. if he is removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the

then members of the council. Such a resolution can be moved

only after giving 14 days advance notice.

As a presiding officer, the powers and functions of the Chairman in

the council are similar to those of the Speaker in the assembly.

the Chairman. The Speaker decides whether a bill is a Money Bill or

not and his decision on this question is final.

The salaries and allowances of the Speaker and the Deputy

Speaker of the assembly and the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman

of the council are fixed by the state legislature. They are charged on

the Consolidated Fund of the State and thus are not subject to the

annual vote of the state legislature.

Deputy Chairman of Council

Like the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman is also elected by the council

itself from amongst its members.

The deputy chairman vacates his office in any of the following three

cases:

1. if he ceases to be a member of the council;

2. if he resigns by writing to the Chairman; and

3. if he is removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the

then members of the council. Such a resolution can be moved

only after giving 14 days advance notice.

The Deputy Chairman performs the duties of the Chairman’s office

when it is vacant. He also acts as the Chairman when the latter is

absent from the sitting of the council. In both the cases, he has all the

powers of the Chairman.

The Chairman nominates from amongst the members a panel of

vice-chairman. Any one of them can preside over the council in the

absence of the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman. He has the same

SESSIONS OF STATE LEGISLATURE

Summoning

The governor from time to time summons each House of state

legislature to meet. The maximum gap between the two sessions of

state legislature cannot be more than six months, ie, the state

legislature should meet at least twice a year. A session of the state

legislature consists of many sittings.

Adjournment

An adjournment suspends the work in a sitting for a specified time

which may be hours, days or weeks.

Adjournment sine die means terminating a sitting of the state

legislature for an indefinite period. The power of the adjournment as

well as adjournment sine die lies with the presiding officer of the

House.

Prorogation

The presiding officer (Speaker or Chairman) declares the House

adjourned sine die, when the business of the session is completed.

Within the next few days, the governor issues a notification for

prorogation of the session.

However, the governor can also prorogue the House which is in

session. Unlike an adjournment, a prorogation terminates a session of

the House.

Dissolution

The legislative council, being a permanent house, is not subject to

dissolution. Only the legislative assembly is subject to dissolution.

Unlike a prorogation, a dissolution ends the very life of the existing

House, and a new House is constituted after the general elections are

held.

The position with respect to lapsing of bills on the dissolution of the

assembly is mentioned below:

2. A Bill passed by the assembly but pending in the council lapses.

3. A Bill pending in the council but not passed by the assembly

does not lapse.

4. A Bill passed by the assembly (in a unicameral state) or passed

by both the houses (in a bicameral state) but pending assent of

the governor or the President does not lapse.

5. A Bill passed by the assembly (in a unicameral state) or passed

by both the Houses (in a bicameral state) but returned by the

president for reconsideration of House (s) does not lapse.

Quorum

Quorum is the minimum number of members required to be present in

the House before it can transact any business. It is ten members or

one-tenth of the total number of members of the House (including the

presiding officer), whichever is greater. If there is no quorum during a

meeting of the House, it is the duty of the presiding officer either to

adjourn the House or to suspend the meeting until there is a quorum.

Voting in House

All matters at any sitting of either House are decided by a majority of

votes of the members present and voting excluding the presiding

officer. Only a few matters which are specifically mentioned in the

Constitution like removal of the speaker of the assembly, removal of

the Chairman of the council and so on require special majority, not

ordinary majority. The presiding officer (i.e., Speaker in the case of

assembly or chairman in the case of council or the person acting as

such) does not vote in the first instance, but exercises a casting vote

in the case of an equality of votes.

Language in State Legislature

The Constitution has declared the official language(s) of the state or

Hindi or English, to be the languages for transacting business in the

state legislature. However, the presiding officer can permit a member

to address the House in his mother-tongue. The state legislature is

authorised to decide whether to continue or discontinue English as a

floor language after the completion of fifteen years from the

twenty-five years and that of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Mizoram, it

is forty years.

Rights of Ministers and Advocate General

In addition to the members of a House, every minister and the

advocate general of the state have the right to speak and take part in

the proceedings of either House or any of its committees of which he

is named a member, without being entitled to vote. There are two

reasons underlying this constitutional provision:

1. A minister can participate in the proceedings of a House, of