The debates around Legislative Councils, their functions today, Pg17

Key Highlights:

• Elections were recently held for 28 seats across the Legislative Councils of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
• Currently, six Indian states operate a bicameral legislature, featuring both a Legislative Assembly and a Legislative Council: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Similar to the Rajya Sabha, Legislative Councils serve as a second layer in the law-making process at the state level.
• Members of Legislative Councils (MLCs) are elected for six-year terms through indirect elections, with one-third retiring every two years.
• Eligibility for an MLC seat requires a minimum age of 30 years.

Detailed Insights:

• The concept of bicameral legislatures in Indian provinces was established by the Government of India Act of 1935, with the first Legislative Council functioning in Bengal in 1937.
• The historical roots of this system can be traced back to the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms of 1919, which led to the formation of the Council of State at the national level.
• During the Constituent Assembly debates, the necessity of Legislative Councils was a subject of disagreement among members.
• Legislative Councils have limited powers compared to Legislative Assemblies, notably being unable to reject the Assembly’s suggestions on a Money Bill.
• The creation or abolition of a Legislative Council is often a political issue, as seen in Tamil Nadu where attempts have been made to re-establish the Council after its abolition in 1986.
• Elections to Legislative Councils are considered a political barometer, reflecting support among educated groups and professionals.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad): The upper house in the bicameral legislature of some Indian states, similar to the Rajya Sabha.
• Bicameral Legislature: A legislative body composed of two houses or chambers, such as the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council at the state level.
• Article 169: Constitutional provision empowering Parliament to create or abolish a Legislative Council in a state if the Legislative Assembly passes a resolution by a special majority.
• Article 171: Outlines the composition of Legislative Councils, specifying that total members cannot exceed one-third of the Legislative Assembly and not be less than 40.
• Proportional Representation by Single Transferable Vote: An electoral system used for Legislative Council elections, where voters rank candidates and votes are transferred to achieve proportional representation.