Digital Monsoon Session from today, legislators take part in mock session

Presided over by Speaker Shankar Chaudhary, the mock session was attended by most of the MLAs.

A brief session was held on the Question Hour, during which the members asked questions and the concerned ministers gave answers. Some other businesses of the House was also conducted, like moving a notice to raise a matter of urgent attention, tabling of the annual report of a board or corporation and tabling a Bill and putting it up for digital vote.

The Monsoon Session is set to see condolence references, Question Hours, tabling of and discussion on various Bills and a proposal on some important issue of the last day.

Some of the important Bills that the government is likely to bring for passage in the House include the controversial Gujarat Public Universities Bill, which is set to tighten the government’s grip over public universities.

Another important Bill that the government is set to introduce is Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which proposes to amend the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations Act, Gujarat Municipalities Act and Gujarat Panchayats Act. The Bill has been brought after the government declared that it will give 27 per cent reservation to Other Backward Class communities in the elections of local bodies like gram panchayats, taluka panchayats, district panchayats, municipalities and municipal corporations.

The government will also seek to pass Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park World Heritage Area Management Authority (Repeal) Bill, 2023, proposing to repeal Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park World Heritage Area Management Authority Act, 2006. The statement of object and reasons of the Bill has stated that the 2006 Act has become “redundant”.

It added that the government has established the Pavagadh Area Development Authority in June 2023, which covers Champaner Gram Panchayat and areas within the revenue limits of villages of Panchamahals district.

With Children’s University (Amendment) Bill, the government will propose to change the name of the state-run Children’s University in Gandhinagar to Children’s Research University. It also seeks to pass a Bill to change the name of Gujarat Natural Farming and Organic Agricultural University to Gujarat Natural Farming Science University.

Another bill up for passage is Gujarat Private Universities (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023, seeking to amend the Gujarat Private Universities Act.

It proposes to make it mandatory for private universities to get accreditation from National Council of Assessment and Accreditation within five years of its establishment.

Further, the government is expected to bring a Bill to make amendments to the Gujarat Agricultural Produce and Marketing (Promotion and Facilitation) Act.