New laws to come up this Budget session

Bills ranging from exemption for luxury tax for the tourism industry and annual ground water survey are slated to come up at the budget session of the Legislative Assembly, reports Sayli Udas Mankikar.

Bills ranging from exemption for luxury tax for the tourism industry and annual ground water survey are slated to come up at the budget session of the Legislative Assembly.

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The session begins on Thursday. At least 21 Bills are likely to be taken up for discussion during the month-long session.

On March 18, Governor K. Sankaranarayanan will address a joint session of the State Legislature. Finance Minister Sunil Tatkare will present the budget on March 25.

The government is also expected to table the pending Bill on Mumbai property tax reforms to capitalised value to increase the tax revenue.

The much-awaited Bill on the security of doctors is likely to be tabled. Over the past few years, there have been several cases assault on doctors by patients and relatives. This law aims to make such attacks non-bailable offences. The guilty could face up to three years in prison.

Apart from bills to be tabled, the heightened security of Vidhan Bhavan will be a special feature of the session. “We are considering restricting the number of cars parked inside the Vidhan Bhavan premises,” the Legislature’s Principal Secretary, Anant Kalse. “We will be only admitting those who have identity cards issued from the legislature. Security checks will be stricter.”