* I can’t give judgment at gun point: Chairman
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 5: The Upper House of the J&K Legislature witnessed noisy scenes and tiff between Congress and NC members, resulting into the disruption in the proceedings of the House over the issue of General (Retd) V K Singh.
The issue was raised in the Legislative Council by the National Conference member, Devender Singh Rana who suddenly stood up after `Question Hour’ and raised the issue, as a point of order before the Chairman of House Amrit Malhotra, seeking a direction/ observation on the issue of matter referred to the Chairman by the Privilege Committee on the issue of Gen V K Singh for his `adverse remarks’ against J&K ministers/ legislators.
The Privileged Committee had summoned Gen V K Singh and Congress member Ravinder Sharma had raised a legal point regarding composition of committee, following which the Chairman of the Committee Jugal Kishore Sharma from Congress referred the matter to the Chairman of the Legislative Council.
Devender Rana pleaded the ‘chair’ to give judgment over the issue so that members are relieved of the duty if the matter is not to be pursued further. And if the constitution of the committee was unconstitutional then “let us apologise from the top officers who were summoned by the committee.”
The Congress Member Ravinder Sharma who is also member of the privilege committee then stood up and said he had referred the case to the Chairman of the Council because he had observed a legal point over the composition of the committee.
Giving reference of Rule 257, Mr Sharma said that committee shall have maximum five members and this committee had six. He said if certain issue arises with regard to the interpretation of any rule, it shall be referred to the Chairman for decision. It was for the Chairman of the Council to pass his judgment and his decision is supreme for us. Moreover, we had not objected to the other matters.
He claimed that not only this particular case of Gen V K Singh, but nine other cases are also under observation of this Committee. It was followed by tiff between Mr Rana and Ravinder Sharma. Mr Rana said it means the committee framed by Chairman was not legal and if it not legal then we had no right to summon the top officers. We should feel sorry and tender apology.
He pointed out that some people had soft corner for V K Singh and they were allowing him to go scot free. Then Ghulam Nabi Monga from Congress stood up and alleged that Mr Rana was playing to the gallery (Press Gallery). Dr Veeri and Suhrawardy also stood in support of Mr Rana and joined him.
These arguments irked Mr Rana and exchange of heated arguments continued for some time. Jahangir Mir from Congress stood up and supporting NC Member Mr Rana. He claimed that a man like Gen V K Singh who abused J&K ministers/ legislators, can not be spared. He raised allegations on the `chairman’ for allowing special invitees to certain committees and terming this committee as illegal. It was followed by tiff between Chairman and Jahangir.
Mr Malhotra pointed out that if a member does not attend meetings for three continuous terms he has powers to appoint special invitee for the same under rules. The behaviour of Congress MLC, stunned the other members of his party.
Mr Rana then again pressed the Chairman to pass a judgment on the issue, the visibly agitated Chairman then suddenly remarked,” I can not pass a judgment at gun point”. He asked the NC member to sit and leave it to him to pass a judgment. He said it was his prerogative to give a ruling. The proceedings in the House remained disrupted for about 18 minutes and Chairman had to work hard to restore order in the House.
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