Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 23: Legislative Council today rejected a private member Bill moved by National Conference (NC) lawmaker seeking 20 percent reservation for women for appointment by direct recruitment.
The NC lawmaker, Dr Shehnaz Ganai, moved the Bill in the House to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act 2014. “The statics available in the State reveal that women are not adequately represented in State services. In order to provide equal opportunity and for better living condition to women it is necessary to provide reservation to women in appointment by direct recruitment”, the MLC said while pleading before the House to pass the Bill.
“The total percentage of reservation will not be disturbed as the women will be provided reservation against available vacancies in each category,” she said. Ganai though PDP-BJP Government headed by Mehbooba Mufti has taken some initiates to empower women in the State but the reservation in recruitment would make a difference.
However, the Government while opposing the Bill said that they have already initiated many steps to empower women. “There is no such rule in the Constitution to employ people on sex reservation. Many steps have been taken for the empowerment of the women in J&K and there is no need to pass the bill. I request the Member to withdraw it,” said Minister for Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali.
However, the NC lawmaker refused to withdraw the bill and insisted that the Bill be put to vote in the House. The bill was defeated in the House after being put to vote as the ruling PDP and BJP members opposed it. Meanwhile, three more private Bills including a Bill prohibiting the sale of meat and liquor at Katra – the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and its surroundings within a radius of 12 kilometers – were withdrawn by the MLCs.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel