Elections to the 6th Jharkhand legislative assembly will be held on November 13 and November 20, 2024. The 5th assembly held sessions between January 2020 and August 2024. This note looks at the functioning of the Assembly during this period.
The Assembly met for 24 days a year on average
Note: Jharkhand was formed in November 2000. The state was under President’s Rule between January and September 2009.
- The Assembly met for 118 sitting days over five years, which is 24 days a year on average. Between 2017 and 2023, state Legislative Assemblies across India met for 23 days a year on average.
- An average Assembly sitting lasted for four hours.
- No Deputy Speaker was elected for the duration of the 5th Assembly. The Assembly has functioned without a Deputy Speaker since March 2005. Article 178 of the Constitution mandates every Legislative Assembly to choose the Deputy Speaker “as soon as may be”, and this requirement has not been met in Jharkhand for nearly two decades.
- Mr. Hemant Soren was sworn in as Chief Minister in December 2019 and retains the position. For five months (February to July 2024, when Mr. Hemant Soren was arrested under PMLA), Champai Soren was the CM.
All but three Bills passed on the day of introduction; trend has continued since 2000
Note: Analysis of Bills in this section excludes Finance and Appropriation Bills.
Seven Ordinances issued, five during Covid-19 pandemic
- Seven Ordinances were issued between 2020 and 2024.
- Five of these were issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Jharkhand Mineral Bearing Land (Covid-19 pandemic) Cess Ordinance, 2020.
Budget was discussed for nine days on average
9% of starred and short notice questions received oral reply, CM Question Hour discontinued
Note: FS – First Session, BS – Budget Session, WS – Winter Session, MS – Monsoon Session, and SS – Special session.
- 9% of listed starred and short notice questions received a response from Ministers on the floor of the House.
- From February 2004, Chief Minister’s Question Hour was held in the Assembly for 30 minutes every Monday. MLAs could ask questions directly to the Chief Minister under this intervention. This procedure was discontinued in March 2022.
Sources: Bulletins, Rules of Procedure, Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, Details of Demand for Grants, Finance Department, Government of Jharkhand, Working Procedures and Traditions of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly (2021), PRS.