GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Ministry of Law and Justice LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.528 TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012 Restoration of Retirement Cycle for the State Legislative Council

528. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:-

a)      Whether it is a fact that a proposal for the restoration of the cycle of retirement of members of the legislative council from the local authorities/constituencies for every two years from Karnataka Government has been pending with the Central Government for over a decade;

b)      If so, the details thereof and the reasons for the inordinate pendency of the proposal with the Central Government; and

c)      The action Government proposes to take on the proposal of the State Government within a time-frame?

ANSWER MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI SALMAN KHURSHID)

a)      Yes, Sir.

b)      and( c): The restoration of biennial cycle requires amendment of Representation of People Act, 1951 and also requires consensus of all the political parties in view of the complexity of the issue. The issue has been set out for discussion in the all party meeting on electoral reforms to be held shortly.