4 Bills likely in Council

Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Prevention Bill, bills for amending Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act, Essential Services Maintenance Act (Esma) and the Constitution amendment bill to scrap collegium system for selection of Supreme Court judges - are likely to come up before the Council during the session, Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy said on Saturday. Of these, the first three bills were tabled during the previous sessions.

“I have to come know that the Law minister is likely to withdraw the bill on Cow Slaughter for tabling it in the House. The bill on Panchayat Raj Act has been referred to a select committee which is yet to submit its report. We have also received the report by MLA K R Ramesh Kumar on reforms to the Panchayat Raj system in the State. But, it cannot be tabled in the Council since the committee was not set up by the legislature,” he said.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy is said to be keen on passage of Esma amendment bill during this session.

As many as 100 MLAs and around 25 MLCs were being housed at Hubballi and the rest would stay at Belagavi.