TN Assembly passes resolution against revival of Council

The Tamil Nadu Legilative Assembly today unanimously passed a resolution against revival of the Upper House, the state Legislative Council. The decision is against the proposal of previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government to revive the Council.

Today, 200 of the 234 Assembly members voted in favour of the resolution while the Opposition members from the Congress and DMK staged a walk-out protesting the government's stand on introduction of common education system. The resolution has been passed since two-thirds of the members supported it, said Speaker D Jayakumar.

It has to be noted that the tussle over the Legislative Council started in 1986, when the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIA DMK) government led by the then chief minister M G Ramachandran abolished the Council through a law. The law came into effect from November 1, 1986. Since then, the DMK during its rule brought resolutions to re-introduce the Council while the succeeding AIADMK government would vote against its revival.

 

The move to re-introduce the Council was taken by the previous DMK government in 2010, stating that it would have members from various sectors of society including doctors and educationists. However, the new AIADMK government brought in resolution arguing that the Assembly itself has several such experts and there is no need for an upper house for the purpose. The government also informed the Assembly today that it would take adequate precautions before implementing the common education system.