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Profile
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History | Rules
of Procedure | Governors
| Chief
Ministers | Council
of Ministers since 1957 |
Presiding Officers Since 1957 |
Deputy Presiding Officers since 1957
| Deputy
Speakers Secretaries | President's
Rule | Duration
of Assemblies | Telephone
Numbers | Right
to Information Act
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KERALA
LEGISLATURE - A SKETCH OF EVOLUTION |
THE
STATE LEGISLATURE (Since 1956) |
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An
integrated State of Kerala emerged from the fusion on
linguistic grounds, demolishing the walls of provincial
separations. After the First General Elections held in
February-March 1957, the First in the series of the
Legislative Assemblies of Kerala commenced on March 1,
1957.The strength of the house was 127 including the lone
nominated member. The Speaker of the First Kerala
Legislative Assembly was Sri. Sankaranarayanan Thampi and
the Deputy Speaker was Smt. K.O.Aysha Bai. On April 5,
1957, the first Communist Ministry, with Sri. E.M.Sankaran
Namboodirippad as the Chief Minister assumed office. This
Ministry was dismissed on July 31, 1959, after a series of
struggles by the Opposition parties. The Assembly was
dissolved on July 31, 1959. This Assembly had 7 sessions
and 175 sittings. The major Legislative outputs include
the Kerala University Bill, 1957, The Kerala Education
Bill, 1957, The Kerala Agrarian Relations Bill, 1957 etc.,
adding upto a total of 88 passed bills. In 1957, the
Business Advisory Committee was formed.
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The
Second Kerala Legislative Assembly, which commenced on
February 22, 1960, had Sri.K.M.Seethi Sahib as the Speaker
and Smt. A. Nabisath Beevi as the Deputy Speaker. On the
demise of Sri. Seethi Sahib, Sri. C.H.Muhammed Koya became
the Speaker on June 9, 1961. After his resignation on
November 10, 1961, Sri. Alexander Parambithara assumed
office on December 13, 1961. A Ministry with Sri. Pattom A
Thanu Pillai as the Chief Minister was formed, giving rise
to the first coalition experiment in the State of Kerala,
consisting of the Praja Socialist Party, the Congress and
the Muslim League. Sri. Pattom Thanu Pillai was appointed
as the Governor of Punjab. On September 26, 1962, the
Congress Legislative Party leader Sri.R.Sankar became the
Chief Minister. A no- confidence motion against the
Government was carried in September 1964. The State came
under the President's rule and the Assembly was dissolved.
This Assembly had 12 sessions and 300 sittings, in which
159 bills were passed, of which the Kerala Panchayat Bill,
the Kerala Police Bill, the Kerala Land Improvement and
Agricultural Loans Bill and the Kerala Public Servants
(inquiries) Bill, 1960 deserve mention.
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In
the Elections held in 1965, no party had majority. The
President's Rule was extended till March 1967.
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On
3rd March 1967, the Third Legislative Assembly was
constituted after the General Elections in March
1967.There were 134 members in the House out of which one
was nominated. Sri. Damodaran Potty was the Speaker and
Sri. M.P.Mohammed Jaffer Khan, the Deputy Speaker. The
Ministry headed by Sri. E.M.Sankaran Namboodirippad took
charge on March 6, 1967. After the resignation of the
Ministry on November 1, 1969, a realignment took place,
with Sri. C. Achutha Menon as the Chief Minister. The
Assembly was dissolved for a fresh mandate on June 26,
1970. The President's rule was imposed. In this Assembly,
there were 7 sessions and 211 sittings. 102 bills were
passed, among which the Co-operative Societies Bill, 1967,
the Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 1968, and the
Calicut University Bill, 1968 had special significance.
The Committee on Public Undertakings started functioning
in 1968. The Assembly held a special meeting in October
1969, to commemorate Gandhi Centinery.
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The
Fourth Kerala Legislative Assembly was constituted on
October 4, 1970. Sri. K. Moideenkutty Haji was the Speaker
and Sri. R.S.Unni, the Deputy Speaker. The Ministry was
headed by Sri. C.Achutha Menon. On the resignation of the
Speaker on May 8, 1975, the Deputy Speaker performed the
duties till February 17, 1976, when Sri. T.S.John became
the Speaker. The life of this Assembly was extended in 3
stages, till March 21,1977. Thus, it had a lifespan of 6
years, 5 months and 18 days, in 16 sessions and 322
sittings. The Kerala Children Bill and the Kerala State
Rural Development Board Bill of 1971, the Kerala
Agricultural Workers Bill, 1972, The Joint Hindu Family
System (Abolition) Bill, 1973 and the Bonded Labour System
(Abolition) Bill, 1975 were among the 226 bills passed. In
1972, the Committee on the Welfare of the Scheduled Castes
and Scheduled Tribes was constituted. On the night of
August 14, 1972, the Assembly met for the 25th Anniversary
of Indian Independence.
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The
next in the series was the Fifth Kerala Legislative
Assembly, which commenced on March 22, 1977. Since then
the strength of the House continued to be 141 including
one nominated member. Sri. Chakkeeri Ahammed Kutty was the
Speaker and Sri. P.K.Gopalakrishnan the Deputy Speaker.
The United Front Government assumed office on March 25,
1977, with Sri.K.Karunakaran as the Chief Minister. On his
resignation on April 25, 1977, Sri. A.K.Antony became the
Chief Minister. He resigned on October 27, 1978 and
Sri.P.K.Vasudevan Nair became the Chief Minister. On
October 12, 1979, Sri. C.H.Muhammed Koya became the
successor, but resigned on December 1, 1979. President's
rule was imposed and the Assembly was dissolved. Totally,
there were 6 sessions and 143 sittings. 87 bills were
passed. The major ones include the Kerala Headload Workers
Bill, 1977, the Kerala Debt Relief Bill, 1977 and the
Kerala District Administration Bill, 1978. An all party
Committee was appointed by the Speaker in March 1979 to
give suggestions regarding the Subject Committees to be
formed. As per its recommendation the unique system of
Subject Committees was introduced for the first time in
India.
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The
sub-committee appointed to report on the proposal for
construction of the new legislature complex submitted its
Report which was approved by the Cabinet vide G.O. dated
19-9-1978. The foundation stone of the Legislature Complex
was laid by Sri. Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, the President of
India on June 4, 1979.
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The
Sixth Kerala Legislative Assembly commenced on January 25,
1980. Sri. A.P.Kurien and Sri. M.J.Zakaria were the
Speaker and the Deputy Speaker respectively. The LDF
ministry under Sri. E.K.Nayanar assumed office on
25-1-1980. This Ministry resigned on October 20, 1981.
President's rule was imposed and the Legislative Assembly
was put under suspended animation. On December 28, 1981 a
Ministry was formed with Sri.K.Karunakaran as the Chief
Minister. The Speaker, Sri. A.P.Kurien resigned on
February 1, 1982, due to loss of majority and was
succeeded by Shri. A.C.Jose .The Ministry resigned on
March 17, 1982. Again came the President's rule. It had 7
sessions and 112 sittings. 47 bills were passed, among
which stand the Kerala Advocates Welfare Fund Bill, 1980,
the Kerala Marine Fishing Regulation Bill, 1980 and the
Kerala Fishermen Welfare Societies Bill,1980.
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The
Seventh Kerala Legislative Assembly opened session on May
24, 1982. With Sri.K.Karunakaran as the Chief Minister,
the UDF Government assumed office. The Speaker, Sri.
Vakkom B Purushothaman, when elected to the Lok Sabha in
1984, was succeeded by Sri. V.M.Sudheeran in March 1985.
The successive Deputy Speakers were Sri.K.M.Hamsakunju and
Sri. Korambayil Ahmed Haji. The Assembly lasted till March
25, 1987, completing the full term. It had 14 sessions and
249 sittings. 79 bills were passed. The Kerala Public Men
(Prevention of Corruption) Bill, 1983, the Gandhiji
University Bill, 1984 etc. fall in this group. The Silver
Jubilee of the Legislative Assembly was celebrated in
1982. The Administrative Block of the Legislature Complex
was inaugurated by Sri. Balaram Jhakhar, Speaker of the
Lok Sabha on May 21, 1985. The work of the Assembly
building was formally commenced when Shri V.M. Sudheeran,
the Speaker, broke the clod of earth on 11th August 1986.
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On
March 25, 1987, the Eighth Kerala Legislative Assembly was
constituted. Shri Varkala Radhakrishnan served as the
Speaker and Smt Bhargavi Thankappan as the Deputy Speaker.
The L.D.F. Ministry under Shri E.K. Nayanar assumed
office. The Centenary Celebration of the Legislative
Bodies was inaugurated on August 23, 1988 by the then Vice
President Dr. Sankar Dayal Sharma. Shri Neelam Sanjeeva
Reddy was The Chief Guest in the Valedictory function held
on August 22, 1989. The Assembly lasted till April 5,
1991, through 11 sessions and 282 Sittings. Among the 112
bills passed, the welfare oriented ones like the Kerala
Coir Workers Welfare Fund Bill, 1987, The Kerala Khadi
Workers Welfare Fund Bill, 1988, The Kerala Handloom
Workers Welfare Fund Bill, 1988 and the Kerala
Construction Workers Welfare Fund Bill,1989, and the
Kerala Public Libraries Bill, 1989 needs special mention.
On August 13, 1987, the 40th Anniversary of Indian
Independence was celebrated in a special meeting of the
Assembly.
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Beginning
from June 29, 1991, the Ninth Kerala Legislative Assembly
had Shri K. Karunakaran as the Chief Minister and Shri
P.P. Thankachan as the Speaker from 1991 to 1995. From
1995, Shri A.K. Antony and Shri Therambil Ramakrishnan
were the respective successors. The Deputy Speaker was
Shri K. Narayana Kurup. On January 1, 1992, the Accident
Insurance Scheme for Members was begun. On November 3,
1993, the Banquet Hall and the 6 Committee Rooms in the
Legislature Complex were inaugurated by Shri P.P.
Thankachan. The Orientation Programme for the Members
began on November 12, 1992. The Assembly lasted till March
19, 1996. There were 15 sessions and 264 sittings. The
Kerala Infrastructure Development Bill, 1993, the Kerala
Panchayat Raj Bill and the Kerala Municipalities Bill,
1994, the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit Bill,
1994 etc. were some among the 83 bills passed. It may be
noted that on April 24, 1994 Shri Cyriac Joseph,
Additional Advocate General was invited to the House to
give clarifications on certain points raised by Members
during the discussion on the Panchayat Raj Bill. This
Assembly saw the formation of the Committee on the Welfare
of the Women and Children and the Committee on Environment
in 1992, the Committee on the Welfare of Backward Class
Communities in 1993 and the Committee on Papers Laid on
the Table in 1995. The Governor's Speech and the Budget
speech were recorded and telecast, for the first time, in
1995.
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The Tenth
Kerala Legislative Assembly was constituted on May 14,
1996. Shri E.K. Nayanar and the Council of Ministers from
the L.D.F. formed the Ministry on May 20, 1996.
On 30th May 1996 Shri M. Vijayakumar was
elected as Speaker. He occupied the chair till
4—6—2001, the only Speaker who had completed the full
term in Kerala Legislative Assembly.
Shri C.A. Kurian was elected as Deputy Speaker on
July 17, 1996.
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On April 27, 1997 the
Assembly celebrated its 40th Anniversary the
focus of which was the honour conferred on the living
Members of the First Kerala Legislative Assembly.
The day of September 18, 1997 has become memorable
by the address given by the President of India Shri K.R.
Narayanan, to the Kerala Legislative Assembly, the first
of its kind in India.
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From
a small council held in Dewan’s Room, the structural
growth of the Legislature reached its pinnacle on 22nd
May 1998, when the President Shri K.R. Narayanan
inaugurated the new Assembly Building.
The last meeting of the Assembly in the old
Assembly Chamber in the Secretariat campus was held on
June 29, 1998. On
June 30th the Assembly met in the new chamber
in the Legislature Complex inheriting the tradition from
the glorious past. On
February 24, 2001 the old Assembly Building was declared
as a historical monument and was dedicated to the nation
by the Vice President of India, Shri Kishan Kant.
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In
July 1999,
the Committee of Privileges was renamed as Committee of
Privileges and Ethics and Committee on the Welfare of
Women and Children as Committee on the Welfare of Women
Children and Physically Handicapped.
The Tenth Kerala Legislative Assembly was dissolved
on May 16, 2001. It
held 16 Sessions with 268 days’ of Sittings.
104 Bills were passed.
The Malabar University Bill, 1996, The Kerala Board
of Revenue Abolition Bill, 1996, The Pre-degree Course
Abolition Bill, 1997, The Kerala Prohibition of Ragging
Bill, 1998, The Kerala Lok Ayukta Bill, 1999, The Kerala
Sports Bill, 1999 are some of the landmark legislations
passed by the Tenth Kerala Legislative Assembly.
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In the election held on May
10, 2001 the United Democratic Front consisting of Indian
National Congress, Muslim League, Kerala Congress (M),R.S.P.(Bolshevik),
Kerala Congress(Jacob),
Kerala Congress(B), and J.S.S secured 99 seats in
the Assembly. The electronic voting machine was used in
140 constituencies for the first time. The Ministry headed
by Shri.E.K.Nayanar resigned on May 13,2001 and the Tenth
Kerala Legislative Assembly was dissolved on May 16,2001.
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The Eleventh Kerala
Legislative Assembly was constituted on May 16,2001 and an
eight member coalition ministry headed by Shri A.K.Antony
was sworn in on May 17,2001. The Ministry was expanded on
May 26,2001 with the induction of twelve more Ministers.
Shri Vakkom Purushothaman was elected as the Speaker on
June 6,2001 and Shri N.Sundaran Nadar as Deputy Speaker on
July 4,2001.
On March 10,2003, Shri
K.B.Ganesh Kumar, Minister for Transport resigned, and
Shri R.Balakrishna Pillai was inducted to the Ministry on
the same day.
In the same year on June
27, two new Legislature Committees viz Committee on
Official Language and Committee on Local Fund Accounts
were constituted.
Shri Mammen Mathai MLA
expired on September 23, 2003 and his wife
Smt. Elizabeth Mammen Mathai got elected in the by
election held on December1, 2003.
The Ministry was expanded
on February 11, 2004 with the induction of
Shri K.Muralidharan, who was not a Member, as Minister.
The portfolios of the Ministers were also reshuffled.
Shri.V.Balaram
resigned his membership in the Assembly on February 20,
2004. In the by election held on May 10, 2004 Shri K.
Muralidharan lost the Wadakkenchery seat to Shri
A.C.Moideen who took oath on May 28, 2004. Consequent on
the defeat, Shri K.Muralidharan resigned his ministership
on May 15, 2004.
On August 29, 2004 Chief
Minister Shri A.K.Antony submitted the resignation of his
Ministry. Subsequently a new five member Ministry was
formed with Shri Oommen Chandy as the Chief Minister on
August 31, 2004. On September 5, 2004 the Ministry was
expanded with the induction of fifteen more
Ministers. Shri Vakkom Purushothaman who had
resigned Speakership on September 4, 2004 became Finance
Minister in the new Ministry. Shri Therambil Ramakrishnan
got elected as the new Speaker on September 16, 2004.
On January 4th, 2005 Shri
P.K.Kunhalikutty, the Minister for Industries resigned and
Shri V.K.Ebrahim Kunju assumed office on January 6,2005.
On April 17, 2005 Shri T.K.Balan, MLA expired and Shri M.
Prakashan Master got elected in the by election held on
June 2, 2005
The election of Shri. P.Jayarajan
from Koothuparamba assembly constituency was
declared void by the Supreme Court on January 11,2005. In
the bye election Shri. p. jayarajan was declared elected on
June 5, 2005.
Shri A.K.Antony resigned
his membership in the Assembly on June 8, 2005 consequent
on his election to the Rajya Sabha.
Nine Members belonging to
the Indian National Congress resigned their seats in the
Assembly with effect from July 5, 2005.
On August 11, 2005 Shri
V.C Kabeer resigned his membership in the Assembly.
Shri A. Sujanapal assumed
office as Minister on January 4, 2006.
Dr.A. Neelalohita Dasan
Nadar resigned his membership in the Assembly on April 3,
2006
The total number of
twelve vacancies, which thus arose, remained unfilled.
The election to the
Twelfth Kerala Legislative Assembly was held on April 22,
29 and May 3, 2006. In the election, the Left Democratic
Front secured a thumping majority. The Eleventh Kerala
Legislative Assembly dissolved on May 12, 2006and the Ministry headed by Shri Oommen Chandy resigned
on that date. The resignation was accepted by the Governor
and was asked to continue till alternate arrangements were
made.
The Eleventh Kerala
Legislative Assembly met for 257 days and passed 165
Bills.
The Assembly also
witnessed some special events during this period. Dr.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, The President of India addressed the
House on July 28,2005. The statues of Mahatma Gandhi,
Pandit Nehru and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar were unveiled in the
Assembly premises by Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime
Minister of India on September 3, 2005. A bust of
K.R.Narayanan, former President of India was unveiled in
the parlour of the House on March 15, 2006 by the
Honourable Speaker Shri Therambil Ramakrishnan.
A Museum for Legislature
highlighting the various stages in the people’s
representation was formally inaugurated on May 5,
2006.
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On May 13, 2006 the Twelfth
Kerala Legislative Assembly was constituted. A nineteen
member Ministry headed by Shri V.S. Achuthanandan was
sworn in on May18, 2006. The first session of the Twelfth
Kerala Legislative Assembly commenced on May 24, 2006.
Shri K.Radhakrishnan was elected as the Speaker of the
Assembly on May 25, 2006 and Shri Jose Baby was
elected as the Deputy Speaker on June 20, 2006.
October 13, 2006 Shri. Mathai Chacko, the
Member elected from the Thiruvambadi Constituency expired.
Shri. George M. Thomas
got elected on December 7, 2006 in the Bye-election held
on December 4, 2006. Shri. George M. Thomas took
affirmation on December 15, 2006.
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