Explain the constitutional provisions under which Legislative Councils are established. Review the working and current status of…

(a) Constitutional provisions: Article 168 provides for Legislative Councils in States that have them. Under Article 169, Parliament may by law create or abolish a Council on a resolution of the State Assembly passed by a majority of its total membership and two-thirds of members present and voting. Article 171 fixes composition: not more than one-third of the Assembly's strength and not fewer than 40 members. About one-third are elected by local bodies, one-third by MLAs, one-twelfth each by graduates and teachers, and one-sixth nominated by the Governor. The term is six years, with one-third retiring every two years.

(b) Working: Councils can delay ordinary bills by up to four months (three months, then one month) and money bills by 14 days. They act as a check on hasty legislation, allow scrutiny of complex issues and give voice to educational and professional interests. Critics call them elite clubs, with limited public accountability and occasional obstruction.

(c) Current status: Six States have Councils: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh abolished its Council in 1985, revived it in 2007 and withdrew its 2020 abolition resolution in 2021. Punjab (1970) and Tamil Nadu (1986) abolished theirs, and Jammu and Kashmir's Council ended with the 2019 reorganisation. Resolutions for creation are pending for Rajasthan and Assam, and Odisha (2018) and West Bengal (2021) Assemblies have passed similar ones.