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Opposition boycotts last sitting of U.P. Assembly

Special Correspondent

Mulayam praises Speaker for smooth conduct of proceedings

— Photo: Subir Roy

THIN ATTENDANCE: A view of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in Lucknow on Wednesday. The entire Opposition, including the BJP, boycotted the last day's proceedings.

LUCKNOW: The last sitting of the 14th Vidhan Sabha, coming in the backdrop of the completion of the Uttar Pradesh elections, ended on an unprecedented note.

First, the entire Opposition, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, boycotted the proceedings. The Leader of the Opposition, Lalji Tandon, defended the decision, saying the session was unconstitutional. Similar sentiments were echoed by the Congress Legislature Party leader, Pramod Tiwari.

Then, Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey, after adjourning the House sine die, invited Chief Minister Mulayam Singh to say a few words. Mr. Singh lauded Mr. Pandey for smoothly conducting the proceedings of the House. He wished the 74 Samajwadi Party legislators present in the House luck for the counting of votes on May 11.

Describing the Samajwadi Government as a "model Government," Mr. Singh said he had succeeded in transforming Uttar Pradesh into "Uttam Pradesh."

Bill passed

Before the House was adjourned, it passed the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University (Amendment) Bill, 2007. Prior to this, the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, Uttar Pradesh Bill, 2004 was withdrawn. The proposal to withdraw the old Bill was moved by the Chief Minister.

A crucial difference is that the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, Uttar Pradesh Bill, 2004, pertained to the Government-funded university with Azam Khan as its Pro-Chancellor for life. The latest Bill relates to a private university. Work on the private university has already commenced in Rampur, Mr. Khan's hometown.

The 2004 Bill was passed by both Houses on November 30, 2004, and was sent to Governor T.V. Rajeswar for approval on December 1, 2004.

Mr. Rajeswar referred the Bill to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. The Bill was returned to the Assembly for reconsideration by Mr. Kalam on August 30, 2006.

The President suggested that instead of a person being the Pro-Chancellor for life, a five-year term be fixed.

During the intervening period, the State Government tabled the private university Bill in 2005, which later became the Mohammad Ali Jauhar Act, 2005.

After the passage of the Amendment Bill in 2007, the Act came to be known as the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University (Amendment) Act, 2007, and it came into effect retrospectively from September 5, 2006.

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