President having legal consultations on Telangana Bill

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee is having consultations with legal experts on various provisions of the draft Telangana Bill proposing splitting of Andhra Pradesh.

Sources said the President wanted the Bill, which provides for creation of Telangana by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, to be legally sound before sending it to the state Assembly for approval.

Yesterday, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the legislation has been sent to the President through the Prime Minister and after that it would be sent to the state Assembly, sources said.

"The Bill is with the President," Shinde had said. The Union Cabinet on December 5 gave the go-ahead for the creation of a 10-district Telangana and outlined the blueprint for carving out the country's 29th state.

Telangana will comprise 10 districts and the rest of Andhra Pradesh comprises 13 districts.

Hyderabad will remain the common capital for both the states for a period not exceeding 10 years.

The Governor of Telangana will have a special responsibility for security of life, liberty and property of all those who reside in the common capital area. The Governor may be assisted by two advisors to be appointed by the Centre.