Thiruvananthapuram: The cabinet has decided to suspend the Assembly session scheduled to be convened on July 27. The Governor will be informed of the decision. The cabinet also decided to roll out the finance bill as a special ordinance.
It has been decided to convene a special cabinet meeting on Monday when the Assembly was originally scheduled to be convened. This cabinet meeting will pass the finance bill as a special ordinance.
Moreover, the meeting will decide if a complete lockdown needs to be imposed in Kerala in view of the alarming rise in COVID-19 cases. However, the majority members of the cabinet are of the opinion that there is no need for a complete lockdown at the moment.
The minister pointed out that Kerala has the facilities to handle the present situation. They added that the practical difficulties of announcing a complete lockdown must be discussed in detail before a decision is made.
An all-party meeting has been summoned on Friday afternoon to discuss the coronavirus prevention activities in the state. The all-party meeting will discuss whether a complete lockdown must be declared in the state. The cabinet meeting on Monday will also consider the decisions taken at the all-party meeting.
Meanwhile, the Opposition has opposed the suspension of the Assembly session. They alleged that the move was to avoid the no-confidence motion moved against the Speaker and the government.
No-confidence motion will be declared invalid
Two no-confidence motions have been filed in the Kerala Assembly. If a notice for a no-confidence motion is received, it must be mentioned in the Assembly and 20 members must support its presentation.The no-confidence motion against the Speaker is linked to the constitution and requires a 14-day notice.
Notice for both of these no-confidence motions can be issued only if the Assembly session is declared. As the motion against the Speaker was moved without the 14-day notice, it will become invalid.
With the Assembly session suspended, the no-confidence motion notice will be declared invalid. A fresh notice will have to be issued in the next Assembly session.