TheState Legislative Assembly, also known as theVidhan Sabha or theSaasana Sabha,[1] is a legislative body in each of the states and certainunion territories ofIndia.Members of the legislative assembly are often directly elected to serve five year terms fromsingle-member constituencies. A legislative assembly may bedissolved in astate of emergency, by thegovernor on request of thechief minister of the respective state or union territory, or if amotion of no confidence is passed against the ruling majority party or coalition.
As per theConstitution of India, where there is aunicameral legislature, the legislative body is termed as the legislative assembly.[2]: 82 Inbicameral jurisdictions, there exists aState Legislative Council. The legislative assembly has the power to create or abolish the legislative council of the respective state or union territory by passing a resolution to that effect by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.[2]: 82 The term of a legislative assembly is fixed at five years unless it is dissolved prior to it. In certain cases such as an emergency of the state, the term can be extended by theIndian parliament for one year at a time.[2]: 85 TheGovernor of the respective state shall convene the assembly periodically, with no more than six months gap between consecutive sessions.[2]: 86 The assembly is presided over by a speaker, who shall be a member of the assembly and elected by the members of that constituent assembly.[2]: 86
The state legislature has the power to enact laws concerning state subjects as defined in the constitution.[2]: 95 The union territories which have a legislature have certain restrictions in terms of these powers.[3] In a bicameral legislature, a legislative assembly holds equal legislative power with theupper house of the state legislature, theState Legislative Council, in terms of passing of bills except in case ofmoney bills. A normal bill can originate in any of the house, and is deemed to be passed only if it is cleared by both houses.[2]: 95 If a bill is passed by the legislative assembly, it should not be held for more than three months by the council. If the bill is sent back by the council, and is again passed by the assembly, the council is expected to act on it within one month.[2]: 95 If the time elapses or if it is sent back, the bill is deemed to have been passed with or without any amendments if any are made by the legislative assembly.[2]: 96 In case of money bills, it shall be introduced only in the assembly and the assembly can accept or reject the recommendations if any that are communicated from the council.[2]: 96
Amotion of no confidence against the government in the state can only be introduced in the state legislative assembly. If it is passed by a majority vote, then thechief minister and her/hiscouncil of ministers mustcollectively resign.[4]
TheConstitution of India states that a legislative assembly must have no less than 60 members and a maximum of 500 members.[2]: 82 However an exception may be granted via anact of theIndian parliament and is the case in the states ofGoa,Sikkim,Mizoram and the union territory ofPuducherry which have fewer than 60 members.[5]
AMember of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) is directly elected fromsingle-member constituencies, which are divided roughly equally based on the population of the region. The number of seats may be revised following a census by an act of the parliament.[2]: 82 A few assemblies have nominated members such as the case ofJammu and Kashmir and Puducherry. To become aMember of Legislative Assembly, a person must be of minimum 25 years of age and be a citizen of India. He/she might not hold any other government office, and should declare the information required by the election commission including anycriminal procedures against him or her.[2]: 85
After the election of a member, he/she is expected to take an oath of affirmation.[2]: 91 The members are paid salaries and allowances as fixed by the respective assemblies.[2]: 90 A member of the assembly may resign on his/her own accord. A member can also be disqualified if found to hold another office of profit in the government, is of no sound mind, has been declared insolvent, or ineligible by a court of law.[2]: 91 Members of the assembly are exempt from any legal cases arising out of what has been said in the assembly.[2]: 94
In28 states and threeunion territories, there is aunicameral legislature which is the sole legislative body.[6][3] In six states, the legislative assembly is thelower house of theirbicameral legislature with theupper house being theState Legislative Council.[7] Five union territories are governed directly by theunion government and have no legislative body.[3]
TheBharatiya Janata Party-ledNational Democratic Alliance is in power in 20 legislative assemblies; theIndian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance is in power in eight legislative assemblies; two legislative assemblies are ruled by two other parties and one legislative assembly is under thePresident's rule.[9]
| Assembly | Seat | Period active | Abolished by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajmer | Ajmer | 1950–1956 | States Reorganisation Act, 1956 |
| Bhopal | Bhopal | 1949–1956 | |
| Bombay | Bombay | 1950–1960 | Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 |
| Coorg | Mercara | 1950–1956 | States Reorganisation Act, 1956 |
| Hyderabad | Hyderabad | 1948–1956 | |
| Madhya Bharat | Gwalior | 1948–1956 | |
| Madras | Madras | 1947–1969 | Madras State (Alteration of Name) Act, 1968 |
| Mysore | Mysore | 1947–1973 | Mysore State (Alteration of Name) Act of 1973 |
| PEPSU | Patiala | 1948–1956 | States Reorganisation Act, 1956 |
| Saurashtra | Rajkot | 1948–1956 | |
| Travancore-Cochin | Trivandrum | 1949–1956 | |
| Vindhya Pradesh | Rewa | 1948–1956 |
| Parliament of India | |||||
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| State Legislative Council |
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| State Legislative Assembly |
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| British Raj | |||||
