Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extraordinary No. 346

What the Gazette contains

Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extraordinary No. 346, published by the Government of Tamil Nadu on 12 November 2010, publishes Bills introduced in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly together with their statements of objects and reasons for general information. The contents identify six Bills:

• The Tamil Nadu Fiscal Responsibility (Second Amendment) Bill.
• The Tamil Nadu Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill.
• The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority Bill.
• The Tamil Nadu Laws (Special Provisions) No. 2 Bill.
• The Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill.
• The Tamil Nadu Appropriation (No. 4) Bill.

The supplied text provides operative details mainly for the fiscal responsibility and municipal laws Bills. It does not provide the detailed provisions of every Bill listed in the contents.

Fiscal responsibility changes

The Tamil Nadu Fiscal Responsibility (Second Amendment) Bill proposes changes to the Tamil Nadu Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2003. Its stated purpose is to obtain the benefit of interest relief on the National Small Savings Fund and the write-off of certain outstanding Government of India loans, following recommendations of the Thirteenth Finance Commission.

Key proposals include:

• Moving the target for reducing fiscal deficit to a level not exceeding five per cent to 31 March 2011.
• Moving the target for eliminating revenue deficit to 2011 to 2012.
• Replacing another deadline of 31 March 2011 with 31 March 2012.
• Bringing the amendment into force on a date appointed by State Government notification.

Municipal ward committees and area sabhas

The Tamil Nadu Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill amends laws governing Municipal Corporations and Municipalities. The supplied provisions cover Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore and state that the amendment is deemed to have come into force on 29 October 2010.

The municipal proposals include:

• A ward committee for every ward within the municipal area.
• Membership comprising the ward councillor and nominated registered electors, with details to be prescribed.
• The ward councillor serving as chairperson while remaining a councillor.
• Area sabhas based on geographical areas linked to one or more polling booths.
• Each area sabha consisting of the ward councillor and all registered electors in that area.
• The ward councillor acting as chairperson and convener of the area sabha.
• Committee and area sabha functions and procedures being prescribed separately.

These municipal provisions may affect residents and registered electors participating in local civic bodies. The supplied text does not set out property title, registration or transfer requirements.