LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS (VIDHAN PARISHADS)

About:

• Constitution of India (Article 168 & 169) provides for bi-cameral legislatures in certain States.
  
  
• Status: Legislative Council is the Upper House of State Legislature. Like the Rajya Sabha it is a permanent House i.e. not subject to dissolution.
  
  
• Process of establishing it: Union Parliament has the power to create or abolish the Legislative Council on the basis of resolutions adopted by special majority in the Assembly of the concerned State.
  
  
• Strength: The maximum strength of the Legislative Council of State is fixed at one-third of strength of the Legislative Assembly of that State and not less than 40.
  
  
• Present status: At present there are seven Legislative Councils in the country.
  
  

Election of Council Members:

• Elections to the State Legislative Councils are held under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (Article 171).
  
  
• The Council members are elected by members of Legislative Assembly of respective states, by members of local bodies, by graduates, by teachers of secondary schools and by nomination by Governor.
  
  
• Criteria for becoming a member:
  • Minimum age limit to be a member of Legislative Council is 30 years.
    
    
  • Council members are elected from those possessing special knowledge and experience in the field of Art, Science, Literature, Social Science and cooperative movement.
    
    
  
  
  
• Tenure: Members are elected for a period of 6 years and one third members retire every second year.