Karnataka Tables Bill To Prevent Disqualification Of Political Secretaries To CM: Check Details

The Bill has been introduced to exempt key advisors to the Chief Minister and Deputy CM from being disqualified as members of the assembly or the legislative council upon their appointment.

The Karnataka government on Friday tabled three pivotal bills in the assembly, including the Karnataka Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) (Second Amendment) Bill, which aims to prevent the disqualification of political secretaries who are MLAs or MLCs.

Bill To Prevent Disqualification Of Political Secretaries To CM

The Bill has been introduced to exempt key advisors to the Chief Minister (CM) and Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) from being disqualified as members of the assembly or the legislative council upon their appointment. Specifically, the bill protects the CM's political secretary, financial advisor, policy and planning advisor, and the deputy chairperson of the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission.

On Monday, the Karnataka cabinet resolved to introduce this bill to safeguard specific advisors to CM Siddaramaiah and DCM DK Shivakumar from disqualification. This move follows the rejection of a previous bill by Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot in February 2024. Governor Gehlot had objected to the broad nature of the bill, expressing concerns that it could be misused by future governments, according to a report on Times of India.

To address these concerns, the new bill specifies the names of the MLAs for whom the disqualification law will not be applicable.

Other Bills Tabled In Karnataka Assembly

The state also introduced two other bills--Karnataka Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill and Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists (Welfare) Bill--in the Assembly. 

The Karnataka Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill seeks to clarify the distinction between input service distribution transactions that require the transfer of input tax credit related to invoices for the receipt of services on behalf of distinct persons and the actual supply of services from one distinct person to another, as reported by PTI. 

It also mandates the distribution of the credit. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for penalising the non-registration of machines used in the manufacture of tobacco products and paan masala.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists (Welfare) Bill aims to establish a welfare board and create a fund dedicated to financial schemes providing social security and welfare for cine and cultural activists in the state.