West Bengal to set up Legislative Council

Legislative Council:

• Legislative Council is the second house of the state.
• Like the Rajya Sabha, the legislative council is a continuing chamber, that is, it is a permanent body and is not subject to dissolution.

• The West Bengal Assembly passed a resolution to set up Legislative Council.
• The tenure of a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) is six years, with one-third of the members retiring every two years. Legislative Assembly can override amendments made to legislation by the Council.

Process to create or abolish legislative council:

• Under Article 169 of the constitution, Parliament may by law create or abolish.

Article 169:

• Parliament may by law provide for the abolition of the Legislative Council of a State having such a Council or for the creation of such a Council in a State having no such Council, if the Legislative Assembly of the State passes a resolution to that effect by a majority of the total membership of the Assembly and by a majority of not less than two thirds of the members of the Assembly present and voting.

Strength of the LC:

• Under Article 171 of the Constitution, the Legislative Council of a state shall not have more than one-third of the total strength of the State Assembly, and not less than 40 members.

Election of LC:

• 1/3rd of members are elected by members of the Assembly.
• 1/3rd by electorates consisting of members of municipalities, district boards, and other local authorities in the state.
• 1/12th by an electorate consisting of teachers.
• 1/12th by registered graduates.
• 1/6th nominated by the Governor from among those who have distinguished themselves in literature, science, art, the cooperative movement, and social service.

States having a Legislative Council:

• Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka.