Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 31: Government today introduced two bills in the Legislative Assembly for amendments in Jammu and Kashmir Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1998 and J&K General Sales Tax Act, 1962.
Introducing bill to amend J&K Persons with Disabilities Act, 1998, the Minister for Social Welfare, Sajad Gani Lone said that Government of India has issued number of recommendations/directions for appointment of full time Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities by all the States with adequate staff and infrastructure.
“Even there are directions from the Apex Court in the case titled Justice Sunanda Bhandare Foundation Versus Union and Others for appointment of Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities by each State”, the Minister said, adding “with the approval of competent authority vide Government Order No.61-SW dated March 1, 2016 the necessary orders stand issued for the creation of Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities along with creation of supporting staff”.
He further said, “this necessitates amendment to Section 46 and allied provisions of the Act of 1998 so as to achieve the objective for creation of independent Commissionerate of Persons with Disabilities”, adding “the Government wants to carry out amendment in Sections 46 and 54 of the Act to provide for qualification, method of recruitment and regulation of salary and other allowances for filling up the post of Commissioner for the Persons with Disabilities in Jammu and Kashmir”.
As per the bill, a person shall not be eligible for appointment as Commissioner unless he/she must have special knowledge of practical experience in respect of matters relating to rehabilitation of persons with disabilities and should not have attained the age of 65 years on the last date of receipt of application. The Commissioner shall be appointed on the recommendations of a Search-cum-Selection Committee comprising Administrative Secretaries of Social Welfare Department, Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Directors of Social Welfare Department, Kashmir/Jammu, Director, Composite Regional Centre, J&K and Special Secretary to Government, Social Welfare Department.
Introducing the bill to amend J&K GST Act, 1962, the Finance Minister, Haseeb A Drabu said, “as of now, contractors working with the Government have to get clearance certificate from the Commercial Taxes Department, which causes a lot of inconvenience to them”.
“To simplify the process for the participating contractors, we are proposing amendments in the Act”, he said, adding “the department shall, however, provide regular up date list of defaulters on its website so that other departments can confirm the status of participating contractors as and when used to”.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel