Gangtok: The Sikkim Legislative Assembly convened today, March 25, at Sonam Tshering Marg, Gangtok, marking the commencement of the Eleventh Assembly Second Session (Part-III).
The session, which began at 10:50 am, is poised to address crucial legislative and financial matters, including the introduction of new bills, the approval of supplementary financial grants, and the presentation of departmental reports.
The assembly initiated its proceedings with a significant legislative move as Shri Raju Basnet, Minister-in-Charge of the Education Department, sought the House’s approval to introduce the Capital University (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (Bill No. 12 of 2025).
This proposed amendment aims to refine the governance structure and operational provisions of Capital University, signaling a focus on enhancing the state’s educational framework. Discussions on this bill are anticipated in the coming days.
A substantial portion of the session is dedicated to financial matters, with Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, who also oversees the Finance portfolio, presenting the Second Supplementary Demands for Grants for the financial year 2024-25.
These additional grants are intended to cater to the extra financial requirements of ongoing state projects and administrative expenses, reflecting the state’s evolving economic needs.
Following the presentation of the supplementary grants, CM Tamang moved for their consideration and approval. If passed, these grants will enable the allocation of additional funds to address the state’s financial requirements.
In conjunction with these grants, the Chief Minister also introduced the Sikkim Appropriation Bill, 2025 (Bill No. 10 of 2025), which seeks legislative approval for the expenditure detailed in the supplementary grants, setting the stage for further discussions and passage during the session.
In a key legislative update, the Chief Minister, in his capacity as Minister-in-Charge of the Home Department, provided the House with a progress report on the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (Bill No. 8 of 2022).
This bill, which was introduced earlier, proposes significant modifications to the state’s criminal procedure framework, reflecting the need to adapt to evolving legal and judicial demands.
The session also featured the submission of annual reports from various government departments and commissions. Speaker Mingma Norbu Sherpa formally laid before the House the Annual Report of the Sikkim Information Commission (2022-23 and 2023-24), the Annual Report of the Agriculture Department, Government of Sikkim (2022-23), the Annual Report of the Home Department, Government of Sikkim (2022-23 and 2023-24), and the Annual Report of the Printing and Stationery Department, Government of Sikkim (2023-24).
These reports offer essential insights into the performance, initiatives, and challenges faced by various governmental bodies in the state. The assembly is set to continue its deliberations on policy and governance matters in the coming days.
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