News and Views

The Assembly on Monday passed the Kerala Finance Bill, which gives effect to the taxation proposals in the Budget for the current year.

The Bill, reported by the Subject Committee, proposes to impose a five per cent duty on conveyance of property by way of amalgamation of companies on the recommendation of the committee.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Board (KIIFB) has approved 48 projects costing Rs. 4004 crores at its meeting here on Monday.

Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac said that funds for this would be mobilised as general obligation bonds. Initially, only Rs. 2000 crores needed to be raised for starting the projects.

Thiruvananthapuram: Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty Amma told the Assembly on Monday that government had appointed a committee with experts to recommend on amendments to the Kerala Marine Fishing Regulation Act.

The committee will examine further measures for conservation of fishes, licensing of fishing boats and compulsory training to fishermen, among other things.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Court Fees and Suits Valuation (Amendment) Bill, now before the Assembly, proposes to allocate most of the funds intended for legal services to the general public for welfare of advocates and their clerks.

The Kerala Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act specifies constitution of a Legal Benefit Fund for the purpose of providing efficient legal services to the people of the State and to provide social security measures for the legal profession. Though the Act was enacted in 1959, the Fund came into being only in 2002.

The Opposition walked out of the Assembly on Friday in protest against the police handling of gang rape of woman by a CPI (M) councillor and his friends at Wadakkancherry and other atrocities against women in different parts of the State.