Monday 13th Jan, 2025
Srinagar : National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah today led a delegation of the National Conference Legislative Party that called on the Governor N N Vohra and submitted two memorandums with him regarding the Government’s sabotage of the Land Laws (Amendment) Bill 2016 and the regressive, overt attempt to weaken the Panchayati Raj System in J&K through the J&K Panchayti Raj (Amendment) Bill 2016.
The NC Legislative Party informed the Governor that the State Legislature in its Session dated the 30th of June, 2016 witnessed a well-orchestrated unholy drama executed by the State Government thereby drafting an unprecedented chapter in the history of the State’s Legislature.
Terming the State Government’s undemocratic sabotage of the Land Laws (Amendment) Bill as a dent to the dignity and honour of the State Legislature, the memorandum stated that “as per procedure after due diligence and clearance by the State Cabinet, the State Government presented ‘The Jammu & Kashmir Land Laws (Amendment) Bill 2016′ before the House”.
The NC Legislative Party informed Vohra that the Bill was taken up for consideration by the House in its session dated 30th June, 2016 and in the course of the discussions on the Bill, it emerged that barring the BJP (whose Ministers in the Cabinet approved the said Bill) almost the entire House was of the considered opinion that the Bill of the Government in the form presented should be passed – which was a rare occasion where almost the entire opposition in unison was in agreement with the content of the said Bill and was supporting the Government on the Bill.
“The Government realized that put to vote, the Bill shall pass with majority even if the BJP legislators stand to oppose it. As soon as this realization donned on the Government, the Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation was on his feet and he brazenly requested the Speaker to refer the Bill to the Select Committee of the House. The request of the Minister, unfortunately setting aside all Parliamentary Procedures and Conventions was agreed to by the Speaker (who seemed to be very keen to do so during the entire proceeding) and the Bill was referred to the Select Committee ignoring the majority voice in the House,” The memorandum on the Land Laws (Amendment) Bill stated.
In the memorandum on the regressive attempt to weaken the Panchayati Raj System through the Panchayti Raj (Amendment) Bill 2016, the NC Legislative Party informed the Governor that two amendments were moved by two NC legislators Ali Mohamamd Sagar and Devender Singh Rana urging the Bill be taken to the Select Committee for wider consultation.
The NC Legislative Party highlighted that J&K has an indigenous robust Panchayati Raj System which is the soul of the decentralization of the Democracy and the essence of it is to involve the people in the process of Planning, Execution & Monitoring of Developmental Process at the grassroots level. “The J&K Panchayati Raj Act was drafted after studying various models of the Panchayati Raj in different States of the Country and has stood the test of time, acclaimed as a model Legislation of Panchayati Raj worth emulation. From time to time it has been amended to further strengthen the Panchayati Raj in the State to ensure better governance and delivery”, the second memorandum stated.
“The amended Bill is also likely to impact the newly created Blocks and their process of development, and shall undo the exercise done to make smaller administrative units for easy access of the people and focused, concentrated development”, the memorandum added.
For the crucial goal of protecting the Panchayati Raj System in the State, Omar Abdullah sought that the Governor should return the Bill for reconsideration if and when it’s passed by the J&K Legislative Council and is sent to the Governor for his assent. The NC Legislative Party also expressed its concern over the deteriorating security scenario in the State.