Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 16: Describing the State Legislature as a place of great sanctity and honour, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today called upon the first-time legislators to maintain its pride and play the principal role of lawmakers so that the society functions in a better way.
Mufti Sayeed was speaking after inaugurating a workshop organized by J&K Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD) to sensitize the debutant legislators about the “Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in J&K Legislature” at EDI Complex here today.
This is the first workshop of its kind that has been organized in the State for the first-time entrants to the Assembly and Council on specific instructions of the Chief Minister.
Welcoming the new members to the day-long workshop, Mufti described the J&K Legislature as one of the most powerful Houses of the country and asked them to ensure its honour is safeguarded.
“I want the new legislators to highlight issues on general policies of the Government and problems confronting their respective constituencies,” he said.
He appealed to the newly-elected legislators to initiate quality debates and the Opposition to keep the Government on its toes by highlighting its weaknesses.
“I hope those sitting on the opposition benches will play a constructive role in pointing out the shortcomings of the Government. I assure that their views and observations will be taken seriously. We are here to do business in the Houses so that people who are the real stakeholders on the ground benefit from the policies and laws that we frame,” the Chief Minister said.
He said: “we have to run the business of the Houses efficiently so that the issues confronting the people are highlighted and resolved in a better way.”
Mufti advised his Council of Ministers, most of whom are first-time MLAs/MLCs, to attend the workshop to familiarize themselves about the procedure of rules and business.
Later, the Chief Minister sat through the first technical session, which was conducted by former Finance Minister and National Conference veteran leader Abdul Rahim Rather.
He shared with the new entrants his vast experience as a former Speaker and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs in running the affairs of the State Legislature.
Referring to the Government’s decision to call a budget session instead of a Vote-on-Account from March 18, the Chief Minister emphasized the significance of the Houses in conveying to the people the future policies and programmes of the coalition Government.
“We have to run the business of the Houses efficiently so that the issues confronting the people are highlighted and resolved in a better way,” he said and added that he wants to place the Agenda of the Alliance of the coalition Government before the people.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, in his address, called the workshop a very progressive idea that will benefit the Legislators in highlighting their issues of concern.
Earlier, Minister for Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs, Syed Basharat Bukhari, highlighted the need to organize the workshop. He said the workshop is being held to improve the ability of the new Legislators to perform effectively in the two Chambers of the Legislature.
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