Andhra Pradesh government is facing legal hurdles

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government, which wants to issue an ordinance to extend the current ‘Vote on Account’ budget period by another 90 days, is facing some legal hurdles. The 90-day period of the Vote on Account budget passed by the YSRCP government will expire by the end of July. But, the Andhra Pradesh government cannot issue an ordinance to extend the Vote on Account budget, as the Andhra Pradesh governor has not adjourned the assembly convened recently for the swearing-in of the newly-elected members. The assembly has not been adjourned sine die after the swearing-in. As per Article 174, the assembly has to be adjourned before the government can issue any ordinance. According to Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, former Speaker of undivided Andhra Pradesh and former Finance Minister, the governor has to adjourn the current assembly before issuing the ordinance. He said there is also another complication that may prevent the governor from adjourning the assembly. Under Rule 176 (1), the Assembly cannot be adjourned sine die without the Governor addressing both Houses of the Legislature and without the Assembly and the Legislative Council passing a motion of thanks to the Governor’s address. The Governor did not address both Houses in the last session. According to Ramakrishnudu, the government has two options. First, call a brief session of the Assembly in which the Governor can address both the Houses and then the government can present another vote-on-account budget for three months. The second option is to call a brief session only for the joint address of the Governor, pass a motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, adjourn the House sine die, prorogue and then issue an ordinance to extend the period of the vote-on-account budget. He said it remains to be seen what the government does now. Ramakrishnudu also appealed to the government to restore the dignity of the Assembly and the Legislative Council to ensure that they meet more frequently to discuss and debate various issues. Generally, any assembly meets for 40 to 90 days in a year. The Kerala assembly has a record of meeting for 61 days in a year.