Prohibition, HRs, daily wagers’ issues also tabled
*Reservation, Social Security to youth bills by NC members
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 16: From appointment of first-ever Lokayukta in Jammu and Kashmir to implementation of Anti-Defection Law in District Development Councils (DDCs), imposition of prohibition, regularization of daily wagers and contractual staff, amendment in reservations, vesting ownership rights of Evacuee Property, block level recruitment and setting up of the J&K Legislative Forum for Monitoring and Protection of Human Rights, the legislators have submitted 33 private member’s bills in the Assembly.
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April 8 is the only day reserved in the Legislative Assembly for private member’s bills during ongoing budget session. How many bills are listed and how many of them are taken up for consideration in the Legislature will be known only on the day of business.
CPM MLA MY Tarigami has introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Lokayukta Bill which has been listed as Bill No. 3 of 2025 in the Legislative Assembly through which the five times legislator has demanded appointment of Lokayukta in the Union Territory.
“Entire political leadership whichever party they belong must be under the domain of Lokayukta as corruption is not yet over. This is must for accountability and transparency at the political level and the administrative structure we are having,’’ Tarigami said on the bill.
Pointing out that Lokayukta has never been set up in Jammu and Kashmir, the CPM veteran said the State Accountability Commission (SAC) was set up once but it too was never revived. Several States have the institution of Lokayukta, he asserted.
At least four legislators have sought ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir through separate private member’s bills tabled by them in the Legislature.
They include NC veteran Ali Mohammad Sagar, a former Minister, Ahsan Pardesi (NC), Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad (Awami Ittehad Party) and Mir Mohammad Fayaz (PDP).
They have sought implementation of prohibition in Jammu and Kashmir through their bills. Besides seeking ban of liquor, Khursheed, through a separate bill, has also sought ban on Online Gaming and Fantasy League.
After prohibition, regularization of daily wagers and contractual workers figured through the private member’s bills tabled by PDP’s Waheed ur Rehman Para and NC’s Saifullah Mir (former Law Minister) besides others.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already announced a high-level committee to decide roadmap on the issue of daily wagers and assured the Legislative Assembly that when he presents next year’s budget, hopefully, it would address the issue.
BJP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia though a bill titled Jammu and Kashmir Temples and Land Protection Bill has sought restoration of entire encroached land of religious places. The issue has repeatedly been raked up in Kashmir where land of some religious places has been grabbed.
Through Jammu and Kashmir Evacuee Property Bill, the BJP MLA has sought property rights for the owners. His third bill sought skill training for the youth as envisioned in the National Educational Policy (NEP).
Another BJP MLA RS Pathania has submitted a significant bill seeking implementation of Anti-Defection Law in the District Development Councils (DDCs). Pathania said the Anti-Defection Law is applicable in Parliament, Assemblies and Municipalities but it is not applicable to DDCs in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said this law is a must to prevent horse-trading among the DDC members.
Congress MLA Nizam ud Din Bhat has sought the constitution of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Forum for Monitoring and Protection of Human Rights through his private member’s bill. Through another bill, Bhat has sought block level recruitment.
NC MLA Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri has submitted the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) bill.
Reservation has become a major issue in Jammu and Kashmir especially the Valley and only yesterday Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that the Cabinet Sub Committee set up on reservation will submit its report within six months.
NC MLA Mubarak Gul has submitted the Jammu and Kashmir Social Security to Unemployed Technocrats and Professional Degree Holders bill seeking social security for them till they get the jobs. He has also brought the Salaries, Allowance and Other Benefits of the Chief Whip bill in the Legislative Assembly.
BJP MLA Pawan Gupta has tabled two significant bills including The Jammu and Kashmir Government Services (Compassionate Appointments) and The Jammu and Kashmir Excise (Amendment) Bill.
NC MLA from Poonch Aijaz Jan has also submitted a significant bill The Jammu and Kashmir Public Men and Public Servants Declaration of Assets and Other Provisions (Amendment Bill).
Another NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq has sought compulsory teaching of ill effect of drug addiction in schools through Jammu and Kashmir War Against Drug Abuse and Compulsory Teaching of Ill Effects of Drug Addiction in Schools Bill.
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