Puducherry Assembly adopts vote-on-account, adjourns sine die

The Puducherry Assembly on Monday adopted a vote-on-account bill during a brief session to meet the expenditure for the first three months of the financial year even as the union territory is in lockdown to contain spread of coronavirus. Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who holds the Finance portfolio, presented the Bill which was adopted by voice vote following which the House was adjourned sine die.

A sum of Rs 2,042 crore had been earmarked to the government departments to meet their commitments during the first three months (April to June) of the new fiscal 2020- 2021. All the Ministers, Speaker V P Sivakolundhu and legislators who attended the brief session participated in the proceedings wearing masks.

Earlier, the Chief Minister helped all those present in his chamber clean their hands with sanitiser. The seating arrangements inside the House were changed keeping in mind the need to maintain social distancing.

The members belonging to the AINRC did not participate in the proceedings and all the seven members of the party stayed at home. Members belonging to the AIADMK and Bharatiya Janata Party staged a protest near the Speaker's podium alleging the government had not taken full-fledged steps to contain the spread of the virus.

The House adjourned sine die after passing the Appropriation Bill. The Assembly condoled the death of people across the globe due to coronavirus.

The Speaker also made obituary reference to late DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan, who passed away recently in Chennai.PTI Corr SS PTI PTI.