(3) While the office of Chairman is vacant, the duties of the office should be performed by the Deputy Chairman, or if the office of Deputy Chairman is also vacant, by such Member of the Provincial Legislature as the Head of the Province may appoint for the purpose. During the absence of the Chairman from any sitting of the Provincial Legislature the Deputy Chairman, or, if he is also absent, such person as may be determined by the rules of procedure of the Provincial Legislature, or if no such personal so is present, such other person as may be determined by the Provincial Legislature should act as Chairman.
80. The Secretariat of the Provincial Legislature
The Secretariat of the Provincial Legislature should be absolutely independent and should be under the Provincial Legislature itself. The Finance Committee of the Provincial Legislature should scrutinize all the financial proposals relating to the expenditure of the Provincial Legislature and thereafter the Budget should be presented to the Provincial Legislature.
The Chairman of the Provincial Legislature should be the Chairman and the Finance Minister of the Province, an ex officio Member of the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee of the Provincial Legislature should exercise similar powers of control and direction in matters relating to the finances of the Provincial Legislature as are exercised by the Standing Finance Committee of the Provincial Legislature with regard to Government expenditure.
In view of the special nature of the work rules should be framed by the Finance Committee to secure to itself closer contact and effective voice in regulating the finances of the Provincial Legislature.
81. Oath of Members
The Members of the Provincial Legislature should be required to take an oath of allegiance. No Member should take his seat in the Provincial Legislature as long as he has not taken the prescribed oath. Provision should be made that where a Member fails or refuses or declines to take the oath of allegiance within a period not exceeding six months from the date of the first meeting of the Provincial Legislature, his seat should be declared vacant: provided that before the expiry of the above-mentioned period the Chairman may, on good cause shown, extend the period.
82. Voting and Quorum
Except for cases in which a specific majority is provided all decisions in the Provincial Legislature should be taken in accordance with rules framed by the Provincial Legislature concerned. The presiding officer of the Provincial Legislature should not exercise any vote except the casting vote in case of a tie. The Provincial Legislature should be entitled to conduct its business even if there is a vacant seat and the proceedings should not be invalidated on that account.
The quorum for a meeting of the Provincial Legislature should be one-seventh of the total number of the Members of the Provincial Legislature.
