Karnataka   

Council without a Leader of the House

By Our Special Correspondent

HUBLI, JUNE 8. When the legislature session begins on Wednesday, the Legislative Council will be without a Leader of the House. H.K. Patil, who was the Leader of the House earlier, no longer holds the post with a new Government having taken over.

With neither Mr. Patil nor any other member of the Council finding a berth in the Dharam Singh Ministry, the Government is not in a position to name anybody as the Leader of the House. "Practice and Procedure of Parliament," written by Kaul and Shakdhar, is clear on who should be appointed Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha and what his role is.

What they say about the leader of the Rajya Sabha can be applied to the Legislative Council.

According to them, the senior-most Minister, who is also a member of the Rajya Sabha, is appointed by the Prime Minister as the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha.

Accordingly, the Leader of the House in the Legislative Council, appointed by the Chief Minister, will have to be a senior Minister and a member of the Council. This is what Kaul and Shakdhar have to say on the Leader of the House: "The Leader of the House is an important parliamentary functionary and exercises direct influence on the course of business. The policy of the Government, especially if it is expressed in the inner life of the House and in measures dealing with the course of business, is concentrated in his person.

"The arrangement of the Government's business is the ultimate responsibility of the Leader of the House, though details are settled subject to his control by the Chief Whip. The Leader of the House makes proposals for the dates of summoning and prorogation of the House, for the approval of the Speaker... The Leader of the House shapes the course and conduct of legislation... the most influential figure in the entire legislative process."

How will the Dharam Singh Government conduct its business without a Leader of the House in Council is the question that is being discussed.

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