Can you explain the term 'expenditure charged upon the Consolidated Fund of the State' as used in the passage?
The term 'expenditure charged upon the Consolidated Fund of the State' as used in the passage refers to the sums required to meet specific types of expenditure that are considered mandatory or non-discretionary and cannot be reduced by the legislature without its prior permission. These include the emoluments and allowances of the Governor and other related expenses, as well as the salaries and allowances of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (and in case of a State having a Legislative Council, also of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman). The phrase essentially signifies expenditure that cannot be withdrawn or reduced without explicit permission from the legislature.