Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 29: For the first time since its constitution about two years ago, the Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) on Justice Sagheer Ahmed Working Group report, which deals with most controversial subject of granting autonomy to the State, has been given six months extension in its term. All previous extensions of the Committee had been for a period of three months.
Even after a number of extensions, the Committee has been no way near preparing a report—unanimous or otherwise, official sources said.
Significantly, extension of six months to the CSC on Sagheer Ahmed WG comes at a time when three Interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir had rejected restoration of pre-1953 position in the State but favoured setting up of a Constitutional Committee to study all Central laws extended to the State after 1952.
Sources said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has approved an extension of six months in favour of the CSC and ask it to try to submit the report within the stipulated period with effect from April 1 this year. The backdated extension was required as the CSC had completed its previously extended term on March 31.
This was sixth extension for the CSC.
The CSC was set up about two years back after Justice Sagheer Ahmed (now dead) had submitted his report to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in December 2009. As the Working Group had touched sensitive issues of autonomy, self rule etc, the Government had set up eight members CSC headed by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather and comprising four Ministers each from National Conference and Congress, the two ruling coalition partners, to study the report and submit recommendations.
They said the CSC could hold only a couple of meetings during its fifth extension of three months from January 1 to March 31, 2012 in view of 42 days long budget session of the Legislature from February 23 to April 4 as the Ministers remained busy with the session.
Extended term of the CSC had expired on March 31 this year, sources said, adding no meeting of the Committee was held in March and April. However, with official extension now for six months, the CSC would meet shortly in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State.
Justifying frequent extensions in term of the CSC, sources said the report submitted by Justice Sagheer Ahmed was very exhaustive, running into three to four volumes, and touched vital issues like autonomy, self-rule and many other sensitive matters pertaining to Centre-State relations.
“It was not an easy task to draft a report evolving consensus on Sagheer Ahmed Working Group recommendations as it concerned many sensitive issues on Centre-State relations. Our report could take some more time. It may require more extensions’’, sources said, adding the CSC was determined to prepare a comprehensive report and submit it to the Chief Minister.
The CSC had held nearly 17 meetings but in view of divergent stand taken by National Conference and Congress Ministers, a unanimous report eluded the Committee forcing it seek more time from the Government to prepare a consensus and exhaustive report.
One of the members of the committee told the Excelsior on the condition of anonymity that there were remote prospects of the Committee submitting a unanimous report as both parties were committed to their stand on autonomy and none of them were ready to dilute it.
The Committee members included Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather (chairman), Law & Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, Industries and Commerce Minister Surjit Singh Slathia and Transport & CAPD Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon, all from National Conference, Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Raman Bhalla, Tourism Minister Rigjin Jora, Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma and PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din.
The Congress was opposing the demand for autonomy while the National Conference was a strong supporter of it. Sources said the Committee would try to work out a middle path in the report but, if that was not possible, it would incorporate views of all the members and submit a comprehensive report to the Government.
Nevertheless, sources said, the CSC would take its time and make every possible attempt to evolve consensus on the report.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel