Chairman of Council

The Chairman is elected by the council itself from amongst its members.

The Chairman vacates his office in any of the following three cases:

1. if he ceases to be a member of the council;

2. if he resigns by writing to the deputy chairman; and

3. if he is removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the council. Such a resolution can be moved only after giving 14 days advance notice.

As a presiding officer, the powers and functions of the Chairman in the council are similar to those of the Speaker in the assembly. However, the Speaker has one special power which is not enjoyed by

the Chairman. The Speaker decides whether a bill is a Money Bill or not and his decision on this question is final.

The salaries and allowances of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the assembly and the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the council are fixed by the state legislature. They are charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State and thus are not subject to the annual vote of the state legislature.