Sikkim Legislative Assembly passes three Bills and adopts Government Resolution on water pollution law
On the third day of the General Budget Session 2026-27, the Sikkim Legislative Assembly passed three amendment bills and adopted a government resolution to take
The third day of the General Budget Session 2026-27 of the Eleventh Sikkim Legislative Assembly saw the House presided over by Speaker Mingma Norbu Sherpa. The day’s business included passage of three Bills, adoption of a Government Resolution, and passing of Separate Demands for Grants linked to several departments.
Three amendment Bills approved in the House
During the session, members passed the Sikkim Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (Bill No. 05 of 2026). The House also approved the Board of Open Schooling and Skill Education, Sikkim (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (Bill No. 06 of 2026), moved by the Minister-in-Charge of the Education Department, Raju Basnet.
In addition, the Assembly passed the Sikkim Fire and Emergency Services (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (Bill No. 10 of 2026). This Bill was moved by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang in his role as Minister-in-Charge of the Home Department. The Bills were introduced earlier in the session on July 20, 2026 by the respective Ministers-in-Charge.
Resolution adopted under constitutional Article 252
The House adopted Government Resolution No. 02 of 2026. The resolution, moved by Minister-in-Charge of the Forest and Environment Department, Pintso Namgyal Lepcha, and seconded by MLA Sonam Tshering Venchungpa, sought the adoption of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 (No. 5 of 2024) for the State of Sikkim under Article 252 of the Constitution of India.
The resolution explains that the Act was first applied to Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and certain Union Territories, and that other states can adopt it through a legislative resolution. It also states that the amendment aims to decriminalize provisions of the earlier Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and to help streamline nomination processes connected to State Pollution Control Boards.
After this, the House also took up Separate Demands for Grants for the financial year 2026–27, with Deputy Speaker Raj Kumari Thapa presiding. The demands were presented under five different ministers covering buildings and housing and labour; urban development and food & civil supplies; health and family welfare, culture and ayush; agriculture and allied sectors; and forest and environment along with mines, geology, and science & technology.
The Assembly later adjourned till 11:00 am on July 23, 2026.
