Andhra assembly met for 12 days in 2020, enacts 41 laws
The state enacted 41 laws, the second-highest in the country in 2020. Karnataka has enacted the highest number of 55 laws.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 3 Jun 2021 11:27 AM GMT
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh assembly session lasted for only 12 days in 2020. The assembly met for five days before the pandemic and seven days after the pandemic. Between 2016 and 2019, the average sitting of the assembly was 26 workers days per year.
The state enacted 41 laws, the second-highest in the country in 2020. Karnataka has enacted the highest number of 55 laws. According to a recent study done by PRS legislative, the below graphs indicates the functioning of 19 state assemblies.
Out of the total acts, 16 were passed in 2019 and 25 in 2020. Four bills were passed in 2020, but they have not become laws as yet. Andhra Pradesh has passed six laws related to education.
Andhra Pradesh government introduced bills for setting up exclusive courts to try offences against women and children. It also wanted to set up an electronic Women and Children Offenders Registry that will maintain full details of persons convicted of offences under these laws. The registry will also be made available to law enforcement agencies.
Change in Land Use:
In Andhra Pradesh, an existing law permitted agricultural lands to be used for non-agricultural purposes upon payment of a conversion tax to the state government. This law was amended to permit reconversion of certain lands back to agricultural land (upon payment of a one percent reconversion fee). This exception was allowed only for land allotted to the Andhra Pradesh Green Energy Corporation Ltd. to establish solar power plants, after the closure of such solar power projects.
Ordinance
The Andhra Pradesh government brought three ordinances in 2020. It includes the ordinance for the state's Panchayat Raj Act for changing the qualification, tenure, and conditions of service of the State Election Commissioner (SEC).
The Ordinance changed the qualification of the SEC from a person holding the office of at least Principal Secretary to the government to that of a Judge of the High Court. It decreased the tenure of the SEC from five years to three years. Further, it stated that any person appointed as SEC before the date of the Ordinance would cease to hold that office from the date of the Ordinance. The Andhra Pradesh High Court struck down the Ordinance in May 2020.
Establishment of APSDC
Andhra Pradesh enacted a law giving statutory status to the Andhra Pradesh State Development Corporation (APSDC). The core objective of APSDC is to plan, fund, and finance socio-economic development projects in the state, in alignment with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The socio-economic development projects include the provision of basic amenities such as housing for the poor, quality education, and clean water and sanitation.
