Date:04/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/04/stories/2006030403710400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Government urged not to take any major decisions

Staff Reporter

Wait till court rules on plea to disqualify 40 JD(S) MLAs: Kharge

Government urged to restrict itself to routine administrative matters

Kharge terms Government illegal, unconstitutional

Bangalore: The senior Congress member M. Mallikarjun Kharge said in the Legislative Assembly on Friday that the Government should restrict itself to routine administrative matters and should not take any decisions involving major policies and programmes in view of the petition pending in the Karnataka High Court seeking the disqualification of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and 39 Janata Dal (S) MLAs.

He once again asked the Speaker, Krishna, to review his ruling allowing the Government to move a motion of thanks to the Governor for his address to the joint session of the legislature under Article 175 (1) and to recall the Karnataka Appropriation Bill, 2006 from the Legislative Council as it was passed in the Assembly without a debate.

Earlier, Leader of the Opposition N. Dharam Singh said the Supreme Court had ruled, in a petition against the proceedings of the West Bengal Assembly in 1952, that a motion of thanks could not be moved on an address by the Governor under Article 175 (1).

The House had passed the Appropriation Bill without a debate, he said and took exception to the absence of Mr. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa from the House.

The former Chief Minister termed the proceedings of the House partisan and said the Opposition will protest against it. The Speaker should not run the House to suit the needs of the ruling coalition, he said.

Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar asserted that the Government was legally constituted and relations between the coalition partners are cordial. The Opposition, which has senior members, such as Mr. Dharam Singh and Mr. Kharge, should guide and advise the Government and not obstruct the proceedings of the House.

Mr. Shettar also criticised Mr. Dharam Singh for charging the Speaker with helping the Government.

`Restrain Government'

Mr. Kharge reminded Mr. Shettar that Janata Dal (Secular) President H.D. Deve Gowda had suspended 40 party MLAs, and a case is pending in the High Court, which had issued notice to the Assembly Secretary. The Government, he said, is illegal and unconstitutional. Till the court gave its judgment on the petition, the Speaker should restrain the Government from taking any major decisions.