Attempting to engineer a thaw between the Raj Bhawan and the UP government over pending issues, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday, called on Governor Ram Naik to discuss passage of bills like Revenue Code and appointment of new lokayukta. The meet lasted for around an hour and several contentious issues were discussed, said a source.
Sources said that the CM apprised the Governor of the pending bills that needed his immediate attention. One of them was about the Revenue Code Bill, passed as Ordinance, which is pending before the Governor.
“The Governor is said to have asked if the winter session of the UP legislature would be held soon, what was the urgency for the Revenue Code Bill,” sources said.
The CM has informed Governor that the state government may not go for a winter session as it does not need supplementary grants.
The Revenue Code Bill was passed almost a fortnight back and the same was sent to Governor for his assent. The ordinance includes repealing of 31 land-related rules, regulations and Acts. The ordinance also allows Dalits to sell their land even if they have less than 3.5 acres.
Justifying his stress on getting the Bill passed, the CM is reported to have said that the High Court had twice asked the state government the reason for not implementing the Revenue Code Act, 2006.
“Even the Principal Secretary ( Revenue) has given an affidavit before the High Court that the government would soon bring an ordinance in this regard to implement the land reforms in the state,” sources said.
A PIl had been filed in the High Court for implementing the Revenue Code Act, 2006, which was consented by the President of India also. But it could not be implemented as it had 94 mistakes and required amendments which have been incorporated.
Sources also said that the CM also discussed matters related to the appointment of lokayuta and nomination of five members for the UP legislative Council.
The UP government is contemplating to revive the old system for appointing the lokayukta in which the incumbent is selected through a joint meeting of committee members including CM, Chief Justice of High Court and leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha. The Government had amended the Act removing Chief Justice from the panel. The Governor has asked the government to change the five names sent to the Raj Bhawan for nomination to the legislative Council.
The meeting between the CM and the Governor came two days after Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey met the Governor to apprise him of the pending Bills. PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav too had met the Governor last month trying to persuade him to approve the Revenue Code Ordinance.