Proposals on autonomy to state secretariats and RTI discussed

Two proposals were discussed at a sub-committee meeting of speakers and chairpersons from legislative councils of various states held here today.
One proposal sought administrative and financial autonomy to secretariats akin to the Parliament, while another proposal sought to discourage applicability of the Right To Information Act in the day-to-day functioning of state assemblies' committees.
After the meeting, Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Chairman A Chakrapani told reporters that a proposal seeking administrative and financial autonomy to legislative assemblies and secretariats as practised by the Parliament was discussed.
He said that as per Article 98 of the Constitution, the Parliament and its secretariats have full functional autonomy. Likewise, there is a provision in Article 187 of the Constitution to give autonomy to state assemblies and its secretariats.

Chakrapani said that the Administrative Reforms Commission has recommended that day-to-day proceedings of committees of legislative assemblies should be brought under the RTI Act.
"We are averse to it," he said, adding they plan to oppose it. "Whatever power the council of assemblies enjoys to keep things confidential, should be applicable to committees too," he said.
Chakrapani said that the two proposals would be discussed at the meeting of the committee of speakers of state legislative assemblies to be held in Lucknow next month.
Besides Chakrapani, Bihar Assembly Speaker Uday Narain Choudhary, Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Sitasharan Sharma, Sikkim Assembly Speaker K N Rai and Haryana Assembly Speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar participated at the meet.