Controversial Co-op Societies Bill passed by HP Assembly

Himachal Pradesh Assembly today passed the controversial cooperative societies bill amidst a walkout by BJP, before the budget session was adjourned sine die.
The House also witnessed high drama when Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh withdrew four bills seeking to enhance salaries and allowances of ministers, chief parliamentary secretaries, Speaker, MLAs and others, maintaining these were brought after a consensus between the Treasury and Opposition benches.
Declining to proceed with the bills in absence of the Opposition, Singh sought Speaker B L Butail's permission to withdraw the proposed legislations. Following this, the Chair permitted withdrawal of the bills.
It was for the first time in the history of HP Assembly that Bills seeking enhancement of salaries and allowances of Ministers and MLAs were withdrawn.

The withdrawn bills proposed a hike in the monthly salary of Chief Minister from Rs 39,000 to Rs 65,000 and of Ministers from Rs 36,000 to Rs 50,000 and had also proposed to increase telephone allowance of Ministers from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.
The minimum pension of former MLAs was also proposed to be increased from Rs 18,000 to Rs 22,000 per month.
On the HP Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, Leader of Opposition P K Dhumal said it went against the spirit of the 97th Constitutional amendment, which bars nominated members of cooperative societies from holding the post of chairman or vice chairman.

The Bill, which was passed by the House, replaces the ordinance issued by the government providing that elected or nominated members of managing committee of cooperative societies will be eligible to become their chairman and vice chairman.