Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 5: Peoples Conference president and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone today termed PDP chief and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti’s review of AIIMS Awantipora a “constitutional crisis”, claiming that “there is much more than meets the eye” behind the development.
He questioned the authority under which Mufti chaired the proceedings and sought clarification from the Government on the legal basis of the meeting.
In a statement, Lone said a former chief minister had no constitutional authority to preside over review meetings of Government departments or institutions, particularly those functioning under the Union Government.
He argued that chairing such a review was beyond the remit of a former chief minister and warranted an explanation from the authorities.
Questioning the legal basis of the meeting, he asked whether any special notification, Government order or authorisation had been issued permitting Mufti to conduct such a review.
“Constitutionally, a former chief minister cannot chair review meetings of departments functioning under the elected Government, let alone institutions that fall under the Central Government. Chairing a review meeting of a Central Government institution is a constitutional impossibility,” Lone said.
He also criticised what he described as the silence of the elected Government over the issue, alleging that the episode reflected a continuing erosion of institutional authority in J&K.
According to Lone, constitutional powers vested in the elected Government belong to the people and cannot be diluted or bypassed.
Describing the episode as another instance of “institutional disempowerment”, he questioned whether similar arrangements would be permitted elsewhere in the country.
Drawing comparisons with other states, Lone said it was inconceivable that former chief ministers would be allowed to conduct review meetings of public institutions after leaving office.
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