Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 23: Though the legislators from different political parties, mainly the Opposition, have taken strong exception to just seven sitting in nine days autumn session of the Legislature beginning September 30, a number of them have not even utilised their due quota of submitting questions (both starred and un-starred categories), private member’s bills and resolutions.
The business for autumn session released by the Assembly Secretariat today revealed that only 474 questions have been received from 60 MLAs, who were entitled to raise 600 queries-300 each in starred and un-starred categories.
However, the Assembly Secretariat has received 226 questions in starred category and 218 questions in un-starred category, official sources told the Excelsior.
In the House of 89 (87 elected plus two nominated women MLAs), 23 members of the Assembly including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah are Ministers. There are a total of 24 Ministers in the State presently, one of whom Planning Minister Ajay Sadhotra is a member of the Upper House. In addition, there are two Presiding Officers-Speaker Mubarak Gul and Deputy Speaker Sartaj Madni while four MLAs enjoyed official position in the rank of Ministers, all of whom can’t submit written questions or private member’s bills and resolution.
Four MLAs in the status of Ministers included Qamar Ali Akhoon, Advisor to Chief Minister, Kafeel-ur-Rehman, Vice Chairman, Pahari Welfare Development Board (both in Cabinet rank), Radhey Shyam Sharma, Vice Chairman, Kissan Welfare and Development Board and Shamima Firdous, chairperson, State Women Commission (both in Minister of State rank).
This leaves 60 MLAs eligible for raising questions. The Assembly Secretariat had invited 10 questions, two private member’s bills and two private member’s resolutions from each MLAs. Of 10 questions, the MLAs were entitled to submit five questions each in starred and un-starred category.
Worthwhile to mention here that starred questions are debated in the Assembly during question Hour while the MLAs are provided with written replies only for un-starred questions.
Sources said 60 MLAs could have submitted 600 questions-300 each in starred and un-starred categories. However, they have submitted a total of 474 questions-226 in starred and 218 in un-starred categories. There were some MLAs, who have utilised their full quota of 10 questions.
Surprisingly, 60 MLAs have submitted only seven private member’s bills and 33 private member’s resolutions.
They were, however, entitled to submit 120 private member’s bills and an equal number of resolutions.
Meanwhile, the pending business of the Assembly, which has been listed for the current session, included 18 bills of private member’s for introduction, seven bills for consideration and passing, two Government bills for consideration and passing, three bills, which would be received from Select Committees and Joint Select Committees, three bills from the Legislative Council and one resolution.
Only, a day each has been reserved for private member’s bills and private member’s resolutions while five days have been fixed for the Government business.
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