jk-lg-tells-mlas-not-to-put-up-queries-related-to-lg-deptts

The Speaker of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, on Tuesday told the legislators that they cannot ask questions pertaining to departments which are under the control of the Lieutenant Governor.

Referring to a question related to the Home Department, the Speaker explained that the question asked by MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed had to be deleted as it is about a department that is in the jurisdiction of the LG under the J-K Reorganisation Act.

Khursheed, the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) MLA, had asked the government for the reasons for the “inordinate delay” in providing ex-gratia payments/benefits under SRO-43 to the families of victims of violence in Jammu and Kashmir.The MLA had made special references to a few cases and asked the government to provide a timeline for the compensation claims to be settled in favour of the next of kin of those victims. 

Meanwhile, the Legislative Assembly today disallowed a discussion on the issue of reservation, with the Speaker ruling that the matter was sub judice and not of recent occurrence, and therefore could not be admitted under Assembly rules.The adjournment motion was moved by MLA Handwara Sajad Lone, who described the reservation issue as a “post-dated cheque for disaster” and urged that it should not be delayed.“I had given an adjournment motion notice on the reservation issue. I want to say that it is a post-dated cheque for disaster. Do not put it under the carpet,” he said.The Speaker, however, said Lone’s motion has already been rejected as per the rules.

 

He cited Rule 58, sub-rule (3), noting that an adjournment motion must concern a matter of recent occurrence, which the reservation issue is not. He also pointed out that a committee had been formed on the issue and its report was awaited, which, he said, was another reason for not admitting the motion.Referring to sub-rule (7) of the same rule, the Speaker added that an issue should not be pending before any competent court of law.

 

“This matter is sub judice and not of recent occurrence. Therefore, I reject it and will not allow it,” he said. Reacting to the ruling, Lone likened the situation to that of a patient “ready to die,” but whose case remains sub judice and therefore cannot be discussed.People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA from Pulwama, Waheed Ur Rehman Parra also spoke on reservation issue, stating that his party did not oppose the concept itself but questioned its fairness and implementation.