Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 21: Despite all odds, a full budget session of the Legislature would be held in Jammu, the winter capital of the State lasting nearly 40 days. The budget would be passed on time and there would be no curtailment of the session.
“We have decided that it would be a full budget session in Jammu. There would be no curtailment. The session, as decided earlier, would start in the fourth week of February and continue for at least 40 days with 25 to 26 sittings. The budget would be presented on time and there would be no Vote on Account’’, Legislative Assembly Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone told the Excelsior.
Official sources told the Excelsior that a decision to hold full-fledged budget session in the winter capital has been taken after a series of meetings of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council Secretariat separately as well as collectively besides taking into view the account of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry.
“All of them were unanimous that holding Vote on Account in Jammu with a brief session followed by full fledged budget session in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, in August was not required as the Government was in a position to hold the full session despite collapse of a part of Legislature building and cracks in other portions’’, sources said.
The Government has reportedly told the two Presiding Officers—Legislative Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra and Assembly Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone—to go ahead with the session preparedness in Jammu from the last week of February up to March end or first week of April depending upon the passing of budget, which was a Constitutional requirement on or before March 31.
Sources said the Government was of the view that Legislative Council (the Upper House) complex was safe for holding the session while Legislative Assembly complex would require repair works.
“If the Assembly complex was not found fit for holding the session even after the repair works, two options would be considered including construction of a complex with pre-fabricated material in the Civil Secretariat lawns or looking for an auditorium. A decision on looking the alternates would be taken only after the Assembly complex was declared unfit for holding the session after the necessary repair works’’, Mr Lone said.
As per tentative schedule, Governor NN Vohra was likely to address joint session of Legislature in Central Hall of Legislature on February 25.
“There will be discussions on the Governor’s Address for three days followed by presentation of budget by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather in first week of March. We would reserve two days each for private member’s bills and resolutions’’, Mr Lone said, adding that all Departments would be discussed and debated in the session.
He added that one month’s notice would be given to MLAs to submit 10 questions each in starred and un-starred category besides private member’s bills and resolutions to be taken up during the budget session.
The Speaker said the round of meetings with Leaders of Opposition, bureaucrats and media persons would start in second week of February and concluded well in time before start of the session.
“I hope both ruling and opposition would cooperate in smooth session wherever it was held’’, he added.
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