JAMMU. Feb 4: Business Rules Committee for Legislative Assembly held its third meeting today and discussed draft rules circulated among the members by the Assembly Secretariat.
The meeting was chaired by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather and attended by all members excepting Pawan Gupta, former Minister and BJP MLA from Udhampur West who was in New Delhi canvassing for the party candidates.
Insiders said some of the members stressed for simplification of draft rules circulated among them few days back as they were quite lengthy and spread over nearly 200 pages saying it was difficult for them to go through all of them. They wanted the Assembly Secretariat to submit draft rules in brief so that they can go through them easily and give their suggestions.
Some of the members, however, gave their suggestions based on the draft rules.
The Speaker, as per the sources, agreed to the suggestions of some of the members for simplifying draft rules and circulate among the members within three to four days for their consideration.
In view of this, next meeting of the Rules Committee has been called on February 11.
“Subject to consensus among majority of the members, the rules are expected to be adopted by the Committee and submitted to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for approval,’’ the sources said.
The new rules, as per the sources, are expected to be implemented before budget session of the Legislature starting March 3.
Sources said the draft rules have been prepared strictly in accordance with Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019.
The draft rules proposed deletion of words like Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, Governor, Legislative Council, Joint Select Committee etc.
The draft rules dwelt in detail on all the issues of Question Hour, Government business including the bills, private member’s bills and resolutions, issues of importance like Call Attention Notices etc to be asked by the Members and other business. It mentioned in detail on timing for discussion on Motion of Thanks on the address given by the Lieutenant Governor, presentation of budget followed by debate.
As per Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019, the Assembly can run on the basis of rules which existed when J&K was a State till new rules are drafted. First session of J&K UT Legislature from November 4-8 was held on the basis of existing rules.
The framing of ‘Business Rules’ for the House were necessitated after erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir was divested of its special status under Article 370 and was divided into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019 was passed on August 5, 2019 by the Parliament in which among other subjects the Legislative Assembly was allowed to function on existing Rules till new ‘Business Rules’ are framed for running the House after the State was converted into the UT.
Headed by Rather, the Rules Committee comprised Mubarak Gul, ex-Speaker, Saifullah Mir, former Law Minister, Hasnain Masoodi, ex-MP and Retired High Court Judge, all from National Conference, Pawan Kumar Gupta, former Minister and Ranbir Singh Pathania, both BJP, MY Tarigami (CPM), Nizam-ud-Din Bhat (Congress) and Muzaffar Iqbal Khan (Independent-Thannamandi). Barring two BJP Members, all others are part of NC alliance.
