Constitution of India, 1949
171.Composition of the Legislative Councils.-
(1) The total number of members in the
Legislative Council of a State having such a Council shall not exceed one-third
of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly of that State:
Provided that the total number of members in the
Legislative Council of a State shall in no case be less than forty.
(2) Until Parliament by law otherwise
provides, the composition of the Legislative Council of a State shall be as
provided in clause (3).
(3) Of the total number of members of the
Legislative council of a State-
(a) as nearly as may
be, one-third shall be elected by electorates consisting of members of
municipalities, district boards and such other local authorities in the State
as Parliament may by law specify;
(b) as nearly as may
be, one-twelfth shall be elected by electorates consisting of persons residing
in the State who have been for at least three years graduates of any university
in the territory of India or have been for at least three years in possession
of qualifications prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament as
equivalent to that of a graduate of any such university;
(c) as nearly as may
be, one-twelfth shall be elected by electorates consisting of persons who have been
for at least three years engaged in teaching in such educational institutions
within the State, not lower in standard than that of a secondary school, as may
be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament;
(d) as nearly as may
be, one-third shall be elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly of
the State from amongst persons who are not members of the Assembly;
(e) the remainder
shall be nominated by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of clause
(5).
(4) The members to be elected under
sub-clauses (a), (b) and c) of clause (3) shall be chosen in such territorial
constituencies as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament, and
the election under the said sub-clauses and under sub-clause (d) of the said clause
shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by
means of the single transferable vote.
(5) The members to be nominated by the
Governor under sub-clause (e) of clause (3) shall consist of persons having
special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the
following, namely:- Literature, science, art, co-operative movement and social
service.