Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, March 17
Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will present budget for the financial year 2026–27 on March 21, as the second phase of the state Assembly’s budget session gets underway on March 18. The second phase of the budget session will continue till April 2 and will have 13 sittings, Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said on Monday. Pathania said the session will begin on March 18 with the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address. The discussion on the motion will continue from March 18 to March 20, and the Chief Minister will reply to the debate on March 20.
On March 21, Sukhu will table his fourth budget in the Assembly for the 2026–27 financial year. The Speaker said discussion on the budget estimates will take place from March 23 to March 25, while the demands for grants will be discussed from March 27 to March 30. A total of 834 questions are scheduled to be raised during the second phase of the session, including 665 starred questions and 169 unstarred questions.
Pathania urged both the ruling party and the opposition to ensure the proceedings are conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner. He said the House will also discuss several issues under the Assembly rules, including eight matters under Rule 62, three under Rule 102, and five under Rule 130.
The Speaker added that international developments, including the situation arising from the Iran-Israel conflict, are also expected to be discussed in the House.
Pathania also said he was satisfied with the functioning of the Petitions Committee. He added that a meeting of the Privileges Committee had been convened in the evening, and the chief secretary had been asked to attend.
The Chief Secretary will be asked to explain the delay in responses in breach of privilege cases. According to available information, around seven such cases are currently pending before the committee.
