REVIEW - Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly - Tamil Nadu Government

CHAPTER IX
GOVERNOR’S ADDRESS
Clause (1) of Article 176 of the Constitution lays down that at the
commencement of the first session after each General Election to the Legislative
Assembly and at the commencement of the first session of each year, the
Governor shall address the Legislative Assembly, or in the case of a State having
a Legislative Council both Houses Assembled together and inform the
Legislature of the causes of its summons. The address outlines the policy of the
Government, Legislative Proposals, business that may come before the House
and some times a brief review of the activities and achievements of the
Government during the previous year. After the Governor delivers his address,
the Tamil version of the address is read out by the Speaker. During the period
under Review, there were six such addresses on the dates given below:—
1. 23rd May 1996
2. 22nd January 1997
3. 18th March 1998
4. 17th February 1999
5. 1st March 2000
6. 19th January 2001
Clause (2) of Article 176 of the Constitution requires that Rules of Procedure
shall provide for allotment of time for the discussion on the matters referred to
in Governor’s Address. Accordingly, rule 12 of the Tamil Nadu Legislative
Assembly Rules provides for such discussion on a Motion of Thanks moved in
the House.
The text of the Motion of Thanks will be as follows:—
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“That the Members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Assembled
in this Session are deeply grateful to the Governor for the Address, which he/
she has been pleased to deliver to the Legislative Assembly on....”
The amendments moved by the Members to the Motion of Thanks will be
disposed of at the conclusion of the discussion and the Motion of Thanks put
to the vote of the House. The motion as adopted by the House will be conveyed
to the Governor by the Speaker.
The Governor’s reply, if any, will be reported back to the Assembly by the
Speaker.
The details of the number of days allotted for discussion on the Motion of
Thanks to the Address, the Members who moved and seconded the Motion of
Thanks, the date on which the amendments were moved, the number of
amendments moved on each occasion and the date on which the original motion
was adopted by the House are given in Section II-Table.No.IX (Vide Page No.473).