Wednesday, February 26, 2025

indian polity book series 28

Indian Polity - Legislative Council and Union Territories

Note: After the bifurcation, the Deputy Speaker of the 14th Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh was - Mandali Buddhaprasad.

  • The Deputy Speaker of the 15th Legislative Assembly - Kona Raghupathi

Speakers of Telangana Legislative Assembly

  • Sirikonda Madhusudanachari - 2014-2019
  • Pocharam Srinivas Reddy - From 2019 to Present

Deputy Speakers of Telangana Legislative Assembly

  • Y. Padman Goud 1952-1956 (Hyderabad State)
  • Padma Devender Reddy - 2014-19
  • T. Padmarao Goud - 2019 - Present

Legislative Council

  • The Legislative Council is also called the Upper House, the House of Elders.
  • Members of the Legislative Council are referred to as MLCs.
  • MLC stands for Member of Legislative Council.
  • The bicameral system at the center was first introduced following the Government of India Act, 1919.
  • Following the Government of India Act, 1935, a bicameral system was established in 6 of the 11 British-ruled provinces. Those states were:
    1. Assam
    2. Madras
    3. Uttar Pradesh
    4. Bihar
    5. Bengal
    6. Bombay
  • Currently, the number of states with Legislative Councils is 6.
Number State Total Seats
1Uttar Pradesh100
2Maharashtra78
3Bihar75
4Karnataka75
5Andhra Pradesh58
6Telangana40

Note:In August 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir state was divided into two Union Territories (Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh) by an act passed by the Indian Parliament. As a result, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council was abolished.

What is the maximum number of members of a State Legislative Council that cannot be exceeded? (3) (AP Constables Mains-2016)

  1. 1/2 of the total number of members of the State Legislative Assembly
  2. 2/3 of the total number of members of the State Legislative Assembly
  3. 1/3 of the total number of members of the State Legislative Assembly
  4. 1/4 of the total number of members of the State Legislative Assembly

  • According to Article 169, Parliament has the power to establish or abolish a Legislative Council with a simple majority.
  • With the approval of Parliament, Assam is the state where the Legislative Council is going to be established recently with 42 members.
  • The number of members of the Legislative Council should not exceed 1/3 of the total number of MLA seats in that state and should not be less than 40.
  • Parliament makes laws regarding the selection of members of the Legislative Council.
  • The following elect the members of the Legislative Council indirectly through the proportional representation single transferable vote system.
  • 1/3 of the members of the Legislative Council are elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly of that state.
  • Another 1/3 of the members are elected by the local bodies (MPTC, ZPTC etc.) of that state.
  • Another 1/12 of the members are elected by the teachers of that state (secondary grade teachers do not have the right to vote).
  • Another 1/12 of the members are elected by the graduates (Graduates) in that state.
  • Another 1/6 of the members are nominated by the Governor as MLCs from the following fields: 1. Arts 2. Literature 3. Science 4. Social Service 5. Cooperative Sector.
  • The state with the most Legislative Council seats is Uttar Pradesh (100 seats).

Page 2 (Page 139 of the original document): Legislative Council (Continued)

  • The state with the fewest Legislative Council seats is Telangana (40 seats)
  • The minimum age required to contest as a member of the Legislative Council is 30 years.
  • Every 2 years, 1/3 of the members retire.
  • The total number of seats in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council - 58.
  • Seats in the Telangana Legislative Council: - 40

Structure of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Legislative Council

Elected by Andhra Pradesh Telangana
1. By MLAs20
(1/3rd)		14
2. By Local Bodies20
(1/3rd)		14
3. Nominated by Governor8
(1/6th)		6
4. By Graduates5
(1/12th)		3
5. By Teachers5
(1/12th)		3
Total5840
  • The first Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council was Madapati Hanumantha Rao.
  • The first Deputy Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council was G.N. King.
  • The current Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council is Mohammad Ahmed Sharif.
  • The current Deputy Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council is - Reddy Subrahmanyam
  • The day on which the Telangana Legislative Council was formed - June 2, 2014
  • The first Chairman of the Telangana Legislative Council - K. Swamy Goud (2014-2019).
  • The current Chairman of the Telangana Legislative Council is - Gutta Sukhender Reddy (2019-Present)
  • The first Deputy Chairman of the Telangana Legislative Council - Nethi Vidyasagar (2014-2019).
  • The current Deputy Chairman of the Telangana Legislative Council is Nethi Vidyasagar (2015-Present)

History of the Legislative Council in United Andhra Pradesh:

  • The Legislative Council in united Andhra Pradesh was established in the year 1958.
  • The then President Babu Rajendra Prasad inaugurated the Legislative Council when Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy was the Chief Minister in 1958.
  • However, the Legislative Council was abolished by N.T. Rama Rao in 1985.
  • The Legislative Council was re-established in 2007 by the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy government.
  • After the bifurcation of the state, the total number of members of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council (3) (AP Constable-2019) 1) 40 2) 45 3) 58 4) 54

Page 3 (Page 140 of the original document): Legislative Council (Continued) Powers, Functions, and Chairmen

Powers and Functions of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council:

  • Ordinary bills can be introduced in either house first.
  • The Legislative Council must give its assent to an ordinary bill passed by the Legislative Assembly within 3 months.
  • If the Legislative Council does not give its assent within 3 months, it is considered to be rejected.
  • The rejected bill returns to the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Assembly can make amendments to the returned bill or send it to the Legislative Council again as it is.
  • The Legislative Council must declare its assent to an ordinary bill reserved for its assent for the second time within a month.
  • If it does not declare, it is considered to be approved and reserved for the Governor's assent.
  • The time that the Legislative Council can delay an ordinary bill for the first time is 3 months.
  • The time that the Legislative Council can delay an ordinary bill for the 2nd time is one month.
  • The maximum time that the Legislative Council can delay an ordinary bill is 4 months.

Note:The person who decides whether a bill is a money bill or not is the Speaker.

On January 27, 2020, the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed a resolution to abolish the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council and sent it to the Central Government.

  • If there is a deadlock on an ordinary bill at the center, the President convenes a joint sitting of both houses.
  • If there is a deadlock on an ordinary bill between the two houses in the state, there is no provision for a joint sitting of both houses.
  • Money bills must be introduced first in the Legislative Assembly with the prior permission of the Governor.
  • The Legislative Council must express its opinion within 14 days of the Legislative Assembly passing a money bill.
  • Even if amendments are suggested or the bill is rejected within 14 days, it is ultimately considered to be approved and the Legislative Assembly reserves the bill for the Governor's assent, either with changes or as it is.

Chairmen of the United Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council

S. No Name Tenure
1Madapati Hanumantha Rao1958-64
2Gottipati Brahmaiah1964-68
3P. Ranga Reddy1968-72
4T. Rangaswamy1972-74
5N. Venkatasubbaiah1974-78
6Syed Mukhasir Shah1979-85
7A. Chakrapani2007-14
8A. Chakrapani2014-17
9N.M.D. Farooq2017-18
10Mohammad Ahmed SharifFrom February 7, 2019

Deputy Chairmen of the Legislative Council

Number Name Tenure
1G.N. King1958-64
2M. Anandam1964-66
3A. Satyanarayana1969-70
4Syed Mukasir Shah1970-79
5Keshava Rao1980-81
6T. Panchajanyam1982-83
7A. Chakrapani1983-85
8Mohammad Jani2007-11
9Smt. Bharati2011-14
10Satish Kumar Reddy2014-17
11Reddy Subrahmanyam2017 - Present

Page 4 (Page 141 of the original document): Union Territories

  • Part 8 of the Constitution deals with Union Territories.
  • The administration of Union Territories is carried out by an administrator appointed by the President.
  • Currently, there are seven Union Territories in the country -
  1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
  2. Lakshadweep
  3. Puducherry
  4. Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu
  5. Chandigarh
  6. Jammu & Kashmir
  7. Ladakh

Union Territories - Parliamentary Seats:

Union Territory Formed in Assembly Seats Lok Sabha Seats Rajya Sabha Seats
1.Andaman and Nicobar Islands19561
2.Delhi19567073
3.Lakshadweep19561
4.Dadra Nagar Haveli
& Daman Diu		20202
5.Puducherry19623011
6.Chandigarh19661
7.Jammu & Kashmir201911454
8.Ladakh20191

Union Territories - Administration:

Union Territory Executive Head (Current) Legislature Judiciary
1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lieutenant Governor (D.K. Joshi) None Calcutta High Court
2. Chandigarh Chief Administrator (V.P. Singh Bhandore) None Punjab and Haryana High Court
3. Dadra Nagar Haveli &
Daman Diu		 Administrator (Praful Patel) None Mumbai High Court
4. Delhi Lieutenant Governor (Anil Baijal)
Chief Minister (Arvind Kejriwal)
Council of Ministers		 Exists Delhi High Court
5. Lakshadweep Administrator (Dineshwar Sharma) None Kerala High Court
6. Puducherry Lieutenant Governor (Kiran Bedi)
Chief Minister (Narayanasamy)
Council of Ministers		 Exists Chennai High Court
7. Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister (Currently Vacant)
Lieutenant Colonel (Girish Chandra Murmu)		 Exists Jammu & Kashmir High Court
8. Ladakh Lieutenant Governor (Radhakrishna Mathur) Jammu & Kashmir High Court

Page 5 (Page 142 of the original document): Union Territories (Continued) and Quiz

  • Article 239 A provides for the creation of Legislatures and Councils of Ministers in Union Territories.
  • Union Territories with their own Legislatures - Puducherry, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir
  • Puducherry has had a Legislative Assembly since this year - 1963
  • Delhi has had a Legislative Assembly since this year - 1993
  • Parliament has the power to make laws in Union Territories without Legislatures.
  • The administrator of a Union Territory has the power to make laws and regulations in urgent situations when the Legislative Assembly of that Union Territory is not in session (with the permission of the President).
  • Parliament has the power (Article 241) to establish a High Court in Union Territories.
  • The only Union Territory with a separate High Court - Delhi (established on October 31, 1966).
  • Administrator of Delhi - Lieutenant Governor
  • Administrator of Chandigarh - Governor of Punjab
  • The President has the power to make laws on matters such as peace and development in Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Puducherry.
  • The 69th Constitutional Amendment Act (1991) recognized Delhi as the National Capital Territory.
  • Parliament (alone) has the power to make laws (even on subjects in the State List) in Union Territories.
  • The Union Territory with the most Legislative Assembly seats - Jammu & Kashmir (114)

Question Bank

1. Which part of the Constitution deals with the administration of Union Territories?
  1. V Part
  2. VI Part
  3. VII Part
  4. VIII Part
2. What is the current number of Union Territories in the country?
  1. 6
  2. 7
  3. 8
  4. 9
3. Which of the following Union Territories has its own High Court and Legislative Assembly?
  1. Puducherry
  2. Chandigarh
  3. Delhi
  4. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
4. In which year was the Delhi High Court established?
  1. 1955
  2. 1966
  3. 1977
  4. 1988
5. What is the title of the chief executive officer of Chandigarh?
  1. Governor
  2. Lieutenant Governor
  3. Administrator
  4. Chief Administrator
6. What is the title of the chief executive officer of Delhi?
  1. Governor
  2. Lieutenant Governor
  3. Administrator
  4. Chief Administrator
7. What is the number of seats in the Delhi Legislative Assembly?
  1. 50
  2. 60
  3. 70
  4. 80
8. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands fall under the jurisdiction of which High Court?
  1. Chennai
  2. Kolkata
  3. Puducherry
  4. Kerala High Court
Answers: 1. D, 2. C, 3. C, 4. B, 5. D, 6. B, 7. C, 8. B
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