On Govt assurance, MLAs withdraw bills
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 1: Even two days after UT Assembly rejected Balwant Singh Mankotia’s Bill on protection of Hindu Shrines and Temples in J&K, another identical Bill in this regard brought by NC’s MLA from Ramban Arjun Singh Raju was withdrawn by the member after the Chief Minister’s reply while other private members’ Bills including that of Pawan Gupta of BJP on Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Scheme of 2022, two separate bills of NC’s Aijaz Jan and Abdul Majid Larmi banning the private practice of doctors and BJP’s RS Pathania’s Bill on amendment to J&K Public Service Guarantees Act were later withdrawn by members on Government’s assurance. The Independent Member Rameshwar Singh from Bani also withdrew his Bill on J&K Civil Services Recruitment after the Government’s reply.
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NC MLA from Ramban, Arjun Singh through his Bill on Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and temples sought their protection to create a Confidence Building Measure (CBM) in the community which has migrated from the Valley saying “This Bill will provide them a chance to return”.
However Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah while opposing the Bill said that an identical Bill was brought in the House some days back by Balwant Singh Mankotia and he opposed it that time. Later Dy CM replied which created a controversy that why CM did not reply when he opposed it.
Omar said that no one can deny that under tough circumstances the KPs had to migrate from Valley. Since then all successive Governments reiterated to take them back. “But we could not take them back as conducive situation for the same could not be created to restore their sense of security,” he added.
He said in 1997 NC Government brought Distress Sale Property Act to ban the sale of migrant properties. While referring to a film which was mentioned by Arjun Singh Raju, the CM said that this too should have been picturised that Muslims protected Hindu temples and shrines. But this was not filmed. He said protection of Hindu temples and shrines by Muslims is also a story.
Omar said “NC Government had earlier brought the Bill for protection of Hindu shrines and Temples but there were contradictions within the community over it as some people came to us opposing the same. If there is unanimity in the community then we can bring the Bill. However, the Government under the existing laws and rules is ensuring their protection.”
Later on the appeal of CM, the member withdrew his Bill. Earlier speaking in favour of the Bill, Arjun Singh Raju said in the entire country a propaganda is made against NC and a film was also released in this regard though it is a fact that if any party stood by the community and has sympathy with them, it is NC which wants their rehabilitation.
He said some trusts have taken control of these shrines which have no record, besides some “fraud Babas” are also controlling them. Earlier as Minister, Mir Saifullah of NC also worked on this issue while then Opposition Leader, Abdul Rahim Rather had also brought a Bill in this regard, he added.
Reiterating that if the Bill is passed it will provide KPs chance to return, he appealed CM to support his Bill. Pawan Gupta of BJP also wanted to remove arbitrary caps and restore guaranteed employment, enhance compensation and bring human sensitivity back in the policy of Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme 2022 through his Bill which he later withdrew on the assurance of the CM.
The Chief Minister, while replying said the Bill has weight. “No Government scheme in itself is perfect. SRO 43 draft Government implemented but it too had shortcomings and later another SRO brought in 2022 titled Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme,. We will see where shortcomings are in this scheme also and correct them.” He appealed the MLA to withdraw the Bill.
Earlier speaking Pawan Gupta said the J&K is not an ordinary region. For decades, thousands of families especially in districts like Poonch , Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, Udhampur and parts of Kashmir Valley have suffered due to militancy, cross border shelling and terrorism.
He said according to official figures tens of thousands of families have been directly affected while widows, orphans and dependents who are still waiting for dignity and support and “Instead of extending that we have made it conditional”.
He said there is no guarantee of job which is biggest injustice. Moreover, there are other lacunas in the scheme which need to be reviewed.
Gupta said that in a land that has endured conflict for decades, policy must be driven by compassion and not calculation”.
Omar later also opposed a Private Member’s Bill seeking changes to the Public Service Guarantee (PSG) Act, while assuring the House that the Government will undertake a comprehensive review of the law to make it more effective.
BJP’s Ranbir Singh Pathania moved the Bill to amend PSG Act in the Legislative Assembly, citing changing circumstances and technological advancements.
“The Private Member’s Bill has reminded us that the PSG Act remains in force in Jammu and Kashmir, despite several changes and the removal of many provisions from the statute book after 2020,” the Chief Minister said, acknowledging the member’s concerns and adding that the time may be ripe to revisit the key legislation.
Abdullah said the scope of services under the Act has expanded significantly since its inception, with several new services added over time to ensure timely delivery of Government services to the public.
He, however, pointed out gaps in implementation, particularly delays in the appellate mechanism, indicating that some provisions may be inadvertently allowing inefficiencies.
“The objective of the Act is to ensure time-bound delivery of services and proper disposal of cases. If that is not happening, we need to address those shortcomings,” he said.
The CM informed the House that a group of senior officers will be constituted shortly to review the Act in detail and suggest necessary restructuring or amendments.
“If legislative changes are required, we will bring them before the House in the next session,” he said.
Urging caution against hasty legislative action, Abdullah requested the member to withdraw the Bill, assuring that the Government will take a considered view on all the issues raised.
Pathania later withdrew the bill, saying he is satisfied with the assurance.
CM also opposed Private Member’s Bill brought by NC’s Aijaz Jan for ban on private practice of doctors. The CM while opposing the Bill said this disease of private practice has spread entire J&K. The private practice has already been banned from time to time through Government orders and every successive Government reiterated it.
He said there is shortage of doctors and some doctors take wrong advantage of the same. He said a technician in a hospital hands over a card to patient and asks him to get this test done outside or he puts off the switch of the machine saying that machine is defunct.
Omar Abdullah, while responding to MLA’s suggestion of increasing salaries of doctors to motivate them not to do private practice said that this too is not a solution. “There are some doctors who take allowances and still do private practice”, he added.
CM assured the MLA that Government will do something positive in this regard but requested him to withdraw the Bill. Later on the assurance of the CM the member withdrew the Bill.
Another Bill on the same grounds introduced by Abdul Majid Larmi on NC was also opposed by the Minister of Health and Medical Education Sakina Ittoo who said that the CM has already kept the Government’s views in this regard before the House. She said the doctors are brought on call where needed and Department takes action against erring doctors also. They are being suspended if found doing practice during duty hours.
She said such clinics of evening practice are also needed otherwise there can be huge rush in hospitals which are already overcrowded. So under prevailing conditions the private practice can’t be banned by the Government. Later member withdrew his Bill.
Replying to Bill introduced by Rameshwar Singh MLA, Bani restricting district level and divisional level recruitments to particular division and district, CM said Government can’t bind the area wise recruitment thorough the Bill. There is ruling of Supreme Court also in this regard, he added.
CM said “In far off areas the required qualified people are not available so I oppose the Bill”. However he assured the Member that in far off areas efforts will be made to ensure transparent recruitment hence MLA should withdraw his Bill, which he did.
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