• The Assam Legislative Council Bill, 2013 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on December 3, 2013 by the Minister for Law and Justice, Mr. Kapil Sibal.

• The Bill provides for the creation of a Legislative Council for the state of Assam.  This is in furtherance of a resolution passed by the Assam Legislative Assembly on July 14, 2013, as required under Article 169 (1) of the Constitution for the creation of Legislative Council in that state.

• The Bill states that the total number of seats in the Assam Legislative Council shall be 42.

• Further, it lays down its composition, as stipulated in the Constitution, as follows:

• 14 persons shall be elected by members of municipalities, district boards and other local authorities in the state.

• Four persons shall be elected by residents of Assam who have been university graduates for at least three years.

• Four persons shall be elected by persons who have engaged in teaching in secondary schools and upwards, for not less than three years in the state.

• 14 persons shall be elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly of the state, from amongst persons who are not members of the Assembly.

• Six persons shall be nominated by the Governor.  They shall have expertise in the areas of literature, science, art, co-operative movement and social service.

• For the purposes of elections to the Legislative Council, the President, after consultation with the Election Commission, shall determine a) the constituencies into which the state shall be divided; b) the extent of each constituency; and c) the number of seats to be allotted to each constituency.

• Further, the Bill states that the President may issue an order for appointing a date for the inclusion of the name of the state of Assam into Article 168 (1) (a) of the Constitution, (after ‘Andhra Pradesh’).  This Article includes names of states that have two houses, the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.

• The Bill also proposes consequential amendments to The Representation of the People Act, 1950 and The Representation of the People Act, 1951.

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