Assembly secretariat takes over Vidhana Soudha ownership

 The Karnataka Assembly secretariat has transferred the responsibility of execution of civil, electrical works and maintenance of the Vidhana Soudha, Legislators’ Home and the ownership of several prominent buildings to itself from the Public Works Department (PWD).

According to the order signed on Wednesday,  the Assembly secretariat will have also  complete responsibility of maintenance of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi and ownership of drivers’ quarters in Siddapura and Crescent Road in Bengaluru.

The move comes despite the PWD’s objection. The PWD in a letter to the Chief Minister’s Office recently had stated that rules framed under the Constitution of India do not allow the legislature secretariat to perform the executive functions of the government.

In Wednesday’s order, the secretariat has sought the ownership of 2.2 acres of land behind Kumara Krupa Guest House in Bengaluru for construction of the Constitutional Club for legislators and that at least 50 acres of available government land be transferred to it for construction of a “Legislature township”.