Functioning of the 15th Karnataka Legislative Assembly | KPSC KAS Preparation: All subjects - KPSC KAS (Karnataka) PDF Download

Introduction

• The document discusses the operations of the 15th Karnataka Legislative Assembly, spanning from May 2018 to February 2023, as it prepares for the upcoming elections for the 16th Assembly on May 10, 2023.

Decline in Assembly Sitting Days Over Time

• The Assembly convened for an average of 33 days per year, with the number of sitting days decreasing over time. The 15th Assembly held 167 sitting days across 15 sessions, averaging 33 days per year. According to the Karnataka Conduct of Government Business in the State Legislature Act, 2005, the legislature is required to meet for at least 60 days annually, over four sessions. However, the 15th Assembly failed to meet this requirement in any year of its five-year term. In fact, the Karnataka Assembly has not met the 60-day requirement in any year since 2002.
• The Act also outlines the minimum duration for each session. Budget sessions are required to last at least 20 days. Out of six budget sessions during this term, the Assembly met this requirement only three times, between 2020 and 2022. The sixth budget session was held to pass an interim budget. The Act mandates that Monsoon Sessions must last at least 15 days, but during the 15th Assembly, no Monsoon Session exceeded 10 sitting days. Only two Winter Sessions met the minimum requirement of 10 sitting days.

Decline in Sitting Days in Karnataka Legislature

• Since 1956, the number of sitting days in both Houses of the Karnataka Legislature—the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council—has declined over the years. 
• Data indicates that 74% of the sittings in the most recent term lasted less than the mandated 6.5 hours.

Majority of Sittings Shorter Than Mandated Duration

• According to the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, each sitting is supposed to last 6.5 hours. However, 74% of the sittings during this term were shorter than this duration. The longest sittings occurred on July 23, 2019, and September 26, 2020, each lasting about 10 hours. 
• On July 23, 2019, the Assembly voted on a motion of confidence in the government, which the government lost. On September 26, 2020, a motion of no confidence against the government was discussed and ultimately defeated.

High Percentage of Bills Passed in the Same Session

• During the 15th Assembly, 176 Bills were introduced, and 164 of these (excluding Finance and Appropriation Bills) were passed by both Houses. Notably, 86% of the Bills were passed in the same session they were introduced. 
• Significant Bills passed during this period include the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020, the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2022, and the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Bill, 2022. 
• Additionally, 32% of the Bills were passed on the same day or the day after their introduction. Less than 5% of the Bills were sent to committees for detailed scrutiny.

High Attendance Among MLAs

• Attendance among MLAs was notably high, with 184 members having more than 75% attendance by the end of the 12th session. Nine members had 100% attendance. The average attendance for MLAs in a session was 83%. 
• The first two sittings of the 15th Assembly, where members took their oaths, had 100% attendance. Attendance generally ranged between 70% and 90% after that, with lower attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the Monsoon Session of 2020 (75%) and the Winter Sessions of 2020 (73%) and 2021 (74%).

Sources: Session Resumes and Bulletins of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly; Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Karnataka Legislative Assembly; RTI requests; PRS.