The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly has been adjourned sine die, marking the end of its 10-day Autumn Session. The adjournment followed a lengthy seven-hour sitting on Wednesday, with Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather formally concluding the proceedings. Over the course of the session, the Assembly convened for seven sittings, accumulating approximately 25 hours of legislative work.
Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the session saw a significant volume of legislative activity. A total of 646 questions were submitted for consideration, with 328 of these being starred questions. Of the questions listed for discussion, 625 were presented, one was withdrawn by its proponent, and 25 were disallowed by the chair. In addition to questions, 79 calling attention notices were received by the Assembly. Of these, 23 were disallowed, while 56 were permitted for debate.
The session also witnessed the introduction and passage of several government resolutions and bills. Two government resolutions were moved, and both were successfully adopted by the House. On the private resolution front, 70 were received, with seven being listed for discussion. One private resolution was taken up for consideration but ultimately was not adopted. The government introduced a total of eight bills during the session; six of these were passed, and two were subsequently withdrawn. Furthermore, the Assembly addressed private member bills, with 49 pending from previous sessions and 23 new ones introduced. One of these fresh introductions was disallowed, and one was taken up for discussion by the House.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, in his concluding remarks, expressed gratitude to the members for their participation and utilization of the session’s time. He emphasized his commitment to ensuring a fair and unbiased environment for all members, stating that his role as presiding officer was to provide opportunities for raising public issues without discrimination. He reiterated his stance of impartiality since his election as Speaker, aiming to discharge his duties without favouring any particular party. The Speaker acknowledged that while most members seemed disinclined to disrupt proceedings, external pressures might influence some individuals to do so.
Rather commended the members for their efforts in maximizing the use of every moment of the session, suggesting that the electorate had made the right choice in electing them. He appealed for continued cooperation from the members in future sessions and offered his assistance in ensuring government accountability. He stressed that the government is accountable to the Assembly and that upholding this accountability enhances the esteem of the House. He encouraged members to bring to his notice any instances where the government fails to fulfill its assurances.
The Speaker also addressed the motion brought forward by the Opposition BJP for his removal. He expressed satisfaction with the discussion that took place regarding his role, viewing it as an opportunity for self-rectification of any shortcomings. Regarding the no-confidence motion, Rather indicated that a decision had not yet been made. He referenced commentary suggesting that such a motion could lapse under specific rules. He explained that a motion can only be listed for business after a 14-day period, and with the session concluding, there would not be another session within that timeframe. The Speaker revealed that he had instructed the Secretary of the Legislative Assembly to explore avenues to prevent the motion from lapsing, including seeking an opinion from the Law Department. He appealed to all members for their assistance in ensuring the motion could be brought forward for discussion in accordance with the established rules.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.