The People’s Majlis has decided to extend its second session until August 20 to facilitate the passage of an amendment to the Decentralization Act, which would allow the government to remove council-managed lands from local jurisdictions.
According to parliamentary regulations, the legislative year is divided into three sessions. The first session runs from February 1 to May 15, while the second session typically spans from June 1 to August 15. The third and final session commences on October 1 and concludes on the last day of November.
Speaker of the Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla announced the extension at the start of today’s sitting, stating that the move is necessary to complete several important tasks. A formal vote on the extension is scheduled to take place during today’s voting hour.
The parliamentary committee reviewing the amendment, which critics argue effectively strips local councils of their jurisdictional authority under the Decentralization Act, has set a deadline of next Sunday to complete its work. The committee has also designated 2:00 pm this Thursday as the deadline for submitting complaints regarding the proposed changes.
As the Parliament continues its review of the bill, members of the public have launched a petition in opposition to the legislation. The petition calls for the immediate withdrawal of the bill, asserting that the proposed changes contravene the fundamental spirit of the Decentralization Act.
