Fri Dec 19 05:28:19 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article rewrite of the provided text:

Summary:

The Karnataka Legislative Council passed seven bills on December 18th, 2025, which had previously been approved by the Legislative Assembly during the winter session. The Karnataka State Road Safety Authority Bill 2025, specifically, sparked a heated debate due to the removal of a cap on a cess for vehicle purchases, leading to a temporary adjournment of the session. The Transport Minister defended the move as being for road safety and introducing value based cess for vehicles.

News Article:

Karnataka Legislative Council Approves Seven Bills, Road Safety Measure Sparks Debate

BELAGAVI, December 19, 2025 – The Karnataka Legislative Council concluded its session yesterday, December 18th, by passing seven bills previously adopted by the Legislative Assembly during its winter session.

While most bills moved through the council without significant discussion, the Karnataka State Road Safety Authority Bill 2025, tabled by Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, ignited a fiery debate amongst members. The contentious issue centered on the removal of a previous cess cap of ₹500 for two-wheelers and ₹1,000 for four-wheelers purchased.

Members of the council questioned the rationale behind the removal, prompting Minister Reddy to explain that the change was designed to introduce value-based cess for vehicles and improve road safety. The explanation fueled further argument between ruling and opposition members, ultimately leading to a ten-minute adjournment of the House.

Following the resumption of proceedings, Chairperson Basavaraj Horatti put the bill to a vote, resulting in its passage. The other six bills were approved without similar levels of debate.

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