Bihar Legislative Assembly

Bihar Legislative Assembly
Name	Bihar Legislative Assembly
Native name	बिहार विधान सभा
Legislature	Bihar Vidhan Sabha
House type	Lower house of Bihar Legislature
Established	1937
Predecessor	Bihar Province Legislative Council
Leader1 type	Speaker
Leader2 type	Leader of the House
Members	243
Voting system	First-past-the-post voting
Last election	2020
Meeting place	Bihar Legislative Assembly building, Patna

Bihar Legislative Assembly

The Bihar Legislative Assembly is the elected lower chamber of the Bihar Legislature in the Indian state of Bihar. It functions alongside the Bihar Legislative Council and interacts with institutions such as the Governor of Bihar, the Chief Minister of Bihar, and national bodies like the Parliament of India. Established during the era of the Government of India Act 1935 and succeeding colonial-era bodies such as the Bihar Province Legislative Council, the Assembly plays a central role in state-level legislation, fiscal oversight, and representation across districts including Patna district, Gaya district, and Muzaffarpur district.

History

The Assembly traces origins to legislative reforms under the Indian Councils Act 1861 and later the Government of India Act 1935, which led to the creation of provincial legislatures in places like Bihar and Orissa Province. After Indian independence and the Constituent Assembly of India debates, the Assembly was reconstituted under the Constitution of India. Major episodes include deliberations during the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, responses to the Emergency (India) period, and reforms following the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution of India and 74th Amendment of the Constitution of India. The Assembly has hosted notable political figures such as leaders from Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), and personalities linked to movements like the JP Movement and the Bihar Movement.

Structure and Composition

The Assembly comprises 243 members representing territorial constituencies mapped to districts and municipalities like Patna Municipal Corporation, Bhagalpur, and Darbhanga. Seats include reserved constituencies for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as mandated by amendments associated with the Constitution of India. Membership categories interact with offices such as the Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha, the Deputy Speaker, and party positions from formations including Rashtriya Janata Dal and Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation. Committees reflect standing entities modeled after parliamentary committees like the Public Accounts Committee and the Estimates Committee.

Powers and Functions

The Assembly exercises legislative powers under entries in the State List and concurrent responsibilities paralleling the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha on certain matters. Fiscal authority includes passage of the Budget of Bihar, money bills introduced by the Council of Ministers of Bihar and scrutiny by committees such as the Committee on Public Undertakings. Oversight functions involve motions like no-confidence, adjournment motions and question hours directed at the Chief Minister of Bihar and ministers. It also plays roles in constitutional processes including the election of members to offices connected with the Governor of Bihar and involvement in proposals for constitutional amendments impacting state subject entries.

Electoral System and Membership

Members are elected from single-member constituencies using First-past-the-post voting, with delimitation carried out by the Delimitation Commission of India. Elections are administered by the Election Commission of India through district-level officials such as the District Magistrate and Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar. Terms, eligibility, and disqualification criteria refer to provisions in the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and constitutional clauses pertaining to age and criminal conviction. By-elections, anti-defection petitions under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India, and resignations interact with judicial review by courts including the Patna High Court and the Supreme Court of India.

Leadership and Secretariat

Key offices include the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, the Deputy Speaker, the Leader of the House who is typically the Chief Minister of Bihar, and the Leader of the Opposition. Party leadership structures feature state units of national parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party and regional parties such as Janata Dal (United). The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary to the Legislative Assembly and staff roles include clerks, research officers, and officers connected to the Legislative Assembly Secretariat; administrative links reach institutions like the Bihar Public Service Commission and State Election Commission.

Meetings and Procedures

Sessions follow conventions like the Budget Session, Monsoon Session, and Winter Session, with proceedings guided by rules akin to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Bihar Legislative Assembly. Procedures include question hour, zero hour precedents, motions, private members’ bills, and committee referrals similar to practices in the Parliament of India. Transcripts and records are maintained as Proceedings of the Bihar Legislative Assembly and questions of privilege, motions of confidence, and impeachment-related inquiries adhere to constitutional norms referenced in the Constitution of India.

Building and Facilities

The Assembly meets in the legislative complex in Patna on an estate that includes assembly chambers, committee rooms, libraries, and media centers. The premises incorporate heritage architecture influenced by colonial-era structures like the Raj Bhavan, Patna and modern additions for information technology managed via the Bihar State IT Department. Facilities support public galleries, interpreter services, and offices for legislators representing constituencies such as Siwan (Bihar Vidhan Sabha constituency) and Nalanda (Bihar Vidhan Sabha constituency). Security coordination involves agencies like the Bihar Police and protocols linked to the Ministry of Home Affairs (India).

Category:Bihar Category:State legislatures of India