Haryana Assembly passes 20 bills in absence of Oppn

Taking full advantage of the absence of Opposition members, Haryana Assembly today hurriedly passed 20 bills, including one to raise the salaries of Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Ministers and MLAs.
The House was adjourned sine die after the week-long session which saw suspension of all 28 INLD MLAs and one from BJP for unruly behaviour. The remaining three BJP MLAs also did not attend the House in protest.
Other legislations passed by the House include Indira Gandhi University, Meerpur (Rewari) Bill, 2013 and Haryana Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2013.
Municipal Corporations in Haryana are governed by the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, which deals with unauthorised constructions and illegal conversions made without prior permission of the Competent Authority.

The procedures for taking action against such constructions and conversions provided in the Act including order for demolition is time consuming, the Assembly was informed.
For taking expeditious actions against violation, the provision for sealing of buildings with unauthorised constructions or illegal conversions has been incorporated in the amendment.

Penalty provisions have also been enhanced for breach or abetment of breach of bye-laws relating to regulation of laying of communication cables and erection of communication towers and dish antennas, for effective deterrence.
The Haryana Municipal (Second Amendment) Bill, 2013, which was also passed by the House, will empower the state government to make bye-laws for various Municipal Corporations.

The House also passed Haryana Motor Vehicles Taxation Bill, 2013. The new Act will consolidate the existing law and replace the existing Punjab Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1924.
Since the enactment of the 1924 Act, the transport sector has undergone tremendous change. The number of vehicles has seen huge growth during the last two decades making it difficult to levy and collect the tax on quarterly basis.
In the new Act, a provision has been kept to levy the tax for any periodicity. Within the maximum limits of the tax the State Government would be empowered to fix the rates of tax for various vehicles from time to time, the House was informed.