Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 4: Speaker of the J&K Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, announced today that a Rules Committee will be formed to formulate new rules for the Assembly, as mandated by the J&K Reorganization Act-2019.
In his address, he explained that Section 46 of the Act grants the Assembly the authority to form new rules and modify existing ones until the new rules are finalized.
“These rules cannot be formed overnight; it will take time, as there is a process that needs to be followed,” he said.
The Speaker added that Subsection 2 of Section 46 states that, until new rules are in place, the old rules can be applied with certain modifications. “The authority to make these modifications lies with the Speaker.”
He assured that new rules would be established soon. “I will form the Rules Committee, which will operate under my supervision, and we will complete the process in record time.”
Rather emphasized that modifications to the old rules will also be made to ensure they remain applicable. “It’s a matter of a few days, and this will be done,” he stated.
The Speaker also acknowledged the role of Pro-tem Speaker Mubarak Gul in ensuring that the session commenced on time, despite initial challenges.
“Just a few days ago, I visited and it seemed holding a session here might not be possible, as everything was in disarray. Even now, the Assembly Secretariat lacks sufficient staff. He worked diligently to make this session happen.”
He further noted that space belonging to the Assembly Secretariat has been occupied, leaving minimal room, not even for a library. He urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take necessary action.
“This Secretariat is exclusively for the Assembly,” he said. “I urge the Chief Minister to ensure that the occupied space is vacated and that alternative space is provided. We currently have no space for a library and the books are kept in corridors.”
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