Assembly passes first supplementary demands for grants for 2024-25

GANGTOK, (IPR): The Second Session Part - II of the Eleventh Assembly (Supplementary Budget) 2024-2025 of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly commenced at the Sikkim Legislative Assembly (SLA) Secretariat, today.

During the Financial Business, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, also the minister-in-charge of Finance department, presented the First Supplementary Demands for Grants for the Financial Year 2024-25.

The first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2024-25 includes 42 grants and 1 Appropriation. Approval of the Legislative Assembly is sought to authorise gross additional expenditure of Rs 150770.31 lakh comprising of Rs 22500.90 lakh on Revenue Account and Rs 128269.41 lakh on Capital Account. Of this, the proposals involving net cash outgo aggregates to Rs 122712.25 lakh.

Thereafter, the house passed the First Supplementary Demands for Grants for the Financial Year 2024-25.

The house also passed the Sikkim Appropriation Bill, 2025 (Bill no 08 of 2025) for the first Supplementary Demands for Grants relating to Financial Year 2024-25, introduced by the Chief Minister also the minister- in-charge of Finance department. Wherein the Bill is introduced in pursuance of clause (1) of Article 204 read with Article 205 of the Constitution of India to provide for the appropriation from and out of the Consolidated Fund of the State of Sikkim of the money required to meet the supplementary expenditure charged in the Consolidated Fund of the State of Sikkim and Supplementary Grants made by the Sikkim Legislative Assembly for the expenditure of the Government of Sikkim for the remaining part of the financial year 2024-25.

During the Legislative Business, Raju Basnet, minister- in- charge of Education department introduced the Mahatma Gandhi University Sikkim (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (Bill no 09 of 2025). Wherein the Mahatma Gandhi University Sikkim Act, 2022 (Act No. 21 of 2022) was enacted in the year 2022 for establishing the Mahatma Gandhi University at Daramdin in Soreng District. After few observations made by the University Grants Commission with regard to off-shore campus and the requests made by the university for amending some of the provisions in the act to start operation of the university, the State government deems it expedient and necessary to amend the Act. The present Bill proposes to amend various sections of the Act and also proposes to insert new sections 35A, 35B, 35C, 3D, 35E, 35F, 45A and 46B by this amendment. With the above objectives in view, the Bill has been framed.

Thereafter, the house passed the Mahatma Gandhi University Sikkim (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (Bill no 09 of 2025).

The house passed the Sikkim Motor Vehicle Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (Bill no 01 of 2025) which was introduced during the Eleventh Assembly Second Session held on February 5 2025 by the Chief Minister, also the minister- in- charge of Transport department.

Thereafter, the session saw the passing of following bills presented by Raju Basnet, minister- in-charge of Education department which was introduced on February 5 2025:

Swastik University Sikkim Bill, 2025 (Bill no 02 of 2025)

Trident University of Applied Sciences Sikkim Bill, 2025 (Bill no 03 of 2025)

Sri Venkateshwara University Bill, 2025 (Bill no 04 of 2025)

Sikkim Model Schools Bill, 2025 (Bill no 05 of 2025)

Similarly, the Chief Minister, also the minister-in- charge of Land Revenue and Disaster Management department moved the Sikkim Public Demands Recovery (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (Bill no 06 of 2025) which was passed by the house.

Bhoj Raj Rai, minister- in- charge of Urban Development department moved the Sikkim Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (Bill no 07 of 2025) which was passed by the house.

The leader of the house also minister- in-charge of Finance department presented the report on the floor of the house including:

Separate Audit Report and Annual Accounts of Sikkim Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Limited for the Year ended 31st March, 2022 and 2023,

Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Performance Audit on Financial and Energy Management by Power department, Government of Sikkim for the year ended March, 2022

Speaker SLA Mingma Norbu Sherpa announced the laying of Annual Reports of the departments/Commissions:

(i) Annual Reports of State Pollution Control Board-Sikkim for the year 2022-2023 and 2023-2024

(ii) Annual Report of the Sikkim Public Service Commission for the Year 2022-2023

Speaker, Sikkim Legislative Assembly, M N Sherpa, in his valedictory address, congratulated the Chief Minister on being ranked as the Most Popular Chief Minister in the Home State with a 62.1% approval rating in the latest India Today Mood of the Nation poll. He said this is a shared achievement, showing the people's trust and the government's commitment to progress.

As part of the 50 years of Sikkim’s Statehood celebrations, the Speaker announced that students would be allowed to visit the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. This will help them learn about how the Assembly works and understand the legislative process better.

In his valedictory remark, the Chief Minister expressing gratitude to the people of Sikkim for their support in achieving recognition as the Most Popular Chief Minister in the Home State with a 62.1% approval rating in the latest India Today Mood of the Nation poll, also dedicated the achievement to the Sikkimese people.

He also emphasised the State government's efforts to enhance unity among the people of Sikkim.

The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the members of the Assembly for their active participation and adherence to Assembly protocol. He also acknowledged the efforts of the administrative staff, security personnel, support teams and press and media in facilitating the seamless progression of the proceedings.

Minister Arun Kumar Upreti, minister Raju Basnet, and MLA Kala Rai also participated in the vote of thanks.

The Speaker then adjourned the house Sine Die.