K'taka Council adjourned ahead of schedule

Bangalore, Feb 20 (UNI) The extended session of the Karnataka Legislative Council was today abruptly adjourned till March 16, a day ahead of schedule.

Council Officiating Chairman N Thipanna announced the abrupt adjournment immediately after Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti replied to a discussion under Rule 330 on non-regularisation of teaching and non-teaching staff in various institutions imparting job-oriented courses. The issue was raised by JD(S) members Puttanna and K T Srikante Gowda and independents Marthibbe Gowda and Narayana Swamy.

The Council, which was extended for three days, was to sit tomorrow also as per schedule.

Earlier, the House passed the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address in the absence of the main Opposition Congress members, who were placed under suspension for disrupting the House proceedings on the issue of appointment of Chairman to the Council.

The motion, moved by BJP member Manohar Maski and seconded by H S Shivashankar of the JD(S), was passed unanimously.

Speaking on the motion, Mr Shivashankar highlighted the performance of the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government and its pro-people programmes, including distribution of free bicycles to poor girls studying in Government institutions, Bhagyalakshmi scheme introduced to reduce female foeticide and pro-farmer programmes like providing loans at four per cent interest rate.

UNI