Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 6: The lack of quorum and the attendance of the Members at the low ebb in the House of Elders has apparently now become the routine affair.
While the members of Legislative Council today lodged strong protest with the “Chair” that their House was not being taken seriously by the Government (Ministers) and bureaucrats, how serious they were in the business could be well gauged when the discussion on the Budget was going on in the House. Minister for Industries, S S Slathia, MoS Finance and Cooperatives Dr Manohar Lal Sharma and MoS for R&B Javed Dar were sitting in the House. None of them is the member of the Upper House. PDP member Murtaza Khan was acting as presiding officer (vice chairman) and after Javid Rana (NC), Bashir Ahmed Magray from Congress was taking part in discussion.
Only seven members were present in the House, having actual strength of 29 between 1.26 pm to 1.40 pm. They included Ravinder Sharma, Master Noor Hussain, Narboo Gailchan, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Dr B A Veeri, Javid Ran and Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy. One of the Ministers went out for some time followed by Master Noor Hussain. The House continued proceedings. The strength of the members was reduced to six in the House after NC member Noor Hussain left the House at around 1.55 pm. The discussion however, continued despite the fact that secretary and his staff was witnessed murmuring and counting members present in the House.
It drew the attention of the Vice Chairman, who pointed out “since the Quorum was not complete and time was also nearly over, the House is adjourned”. This is not happening for the first time, it has now become a routine in this House.
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