by Nisar Rasool
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly is set to adopt new rules for conducting its sessions, with the current operations governed by the rules in place prior to 5 August, 2019, when the region was still a state.
Official sources confirmed that once the Assembly session is convened by the National Conference government, the newly elected Speaker will have the authority to establish a Rules Committee. This committee will be responsible for formulating procedural rules for the Assembly’s operations.
“The rules framed by the House Committee can be passed as a resolution in the Legislative Assembly and subsequently adopted,” sources stated.
Additionally, the Lieutenant Governor, in consultation with the Speaker, will develop rules to ensure the timely completion of financial business. These rules will govern procedures related to financial matters and bills concerning the appropriation of funds from the Union Territory’s Consolidated Fund. They will also restrict discussions on issues affecting the Lieutenant Governor’s functions.
“Until new rules are established, the procedural and standing orders from the former State of Jammu and Kashmir will continue to apply to the Union Territory’s Legislative Assembly,” the sources added.
Financial discussions within the Assembly will require collaboration between the Speaker and the Lieutenant Governor. It is anticipated that during the first session of the Legislative Assembly, the newly elected Speaker will form a House Committee to draft the rules, which will include members from all political parties.
Sources noted that for various issues, particularly those related to finances, the Lieutenant Governor’s permission will be necessary.
The last session of the Legislative Assembly took place in January-February 2018, during which a budget was discussed. Following the collapse of the PDP-BJP coalition government led by Mehbooba Mufti in June 2018, the Assembly was put under suspended animation and officially dissolved in November 2018.
The upcoming session will mark the first meeting of the Legislative Assembly in over six and a half years.
