Bengaluru: The State Government is seriously thinking con-vening a Joint Session of the State Legislature from Jan. 18, said Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J.C. Madhuswamy.

Briefing reporters after the State Cabinet meeting here yesterday, he said Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa will take a decision and inform it to the Governor who in turn will convey the House. 

The Government had plans to get the Anti-Cow Slaughtering Bill passed in the Legislative Council and implement it. However, since the date for convening the first session of 2021 was not yet fixed, the Government took the Ordinance route to bring it into force. Madhuswamy said the Government had decided to reduce the cess given to the APMCs from 1 per cent to 0.60 per cent. Earlier, out of 2 per cent commission being given to traders, 0.35 per cent was given to APMCs.  However, as this will cause loss to APMCs, it was decided to reduce the rate of cess. This is applicable only to those who sell inside the APMC premises, he added.