Opposition parties in the Assembly – the DMK, the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) – on Wednesday opposed a Bill introduced by the government seeking to extend the tenure of the special officers for agricultural marketing committees across the State for six more months or until their reconstitution, whichever is earlier.
Soon after Agriculture Minister R. Doraikkannu introduced the Bill, DMK members, Congress Legislative Party leader K.R. Ramasamy and IUML legislator K.A.M. Muhammed Abubacker opposed it.
Empowered by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1987, the State government had appointed special officers to manage the affairs of the 23 market committees pending constitution of the new market committee for three years.
The tenure of these special officers expired on May 30, 2018. As it would take some more time to nominate members to the market committees, it was proposed to extend the tenure of the officers beyond May 30 this year or till the reconstitution, whichever was earlier.