Use ordinance only in immediate need: Prez

Expressing concern over growing tendency of some states to enact controversial legislations through ordinance route, President Pranab Mukherjee today said the instruments should be normally promulgated only in the event of immediate need.
"Some states, however, appear to be pushing through certain controversial legislations through ordinances. Such ordinances do not have the approval of the House and are not debated or discussed properly by legislators. Such ordinances should normally die a natural death if the Assembly fails to ratify them," he said.
Mukherjee was addressing the Legislative Assembly here on the occasion of valedictory ceremony of its Platinum Jubilee celebrations (1937-2012).

Speaking in Bengali, the President said that with the heightened complexity of administration, legislation must be preceded by adequate discussion and scrutiny. If not, it will fail to deliver the desired results or meet its objectives.
Mukherjee also cautioned against reduction in the number of sittings in Parliament and the state Assembly.
"It is unfortunate that the time devoted by legislators towards legislation has been gradually declining across the country. To illustrate, the first Lok Sabha from 1952-57 had 677 sittings in which 319 bills were passed. In comparison, the 14th Lok Sabha from 2004-09 had only 332 sittings and passed just 247 bills," he said.

Citing the example of state Assembly, he said the first West Bengal Legislative Assembly from 1952-57 sat for 326 days whereas the 14th Legislative Assembly from 2006-11 sat for only 231 days.
"The number of sittings of the current Legislative Assembly in 2011 was 33 days and in 2012 it was 41 days. The Presiding Officers Conferences have time and again reiterated the need for holding a minimum of 100 days of sittings every year," he said.