Second half of session to resume today
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 26: Second half of budget session of the Legislature will resume tomorrow and Jammu and Kashmir’s budget, which was presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds charge of the Finance Department, on February 6, is listed for passing on Day one.
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The budget was debated in the Assembly and reply given by the CM. Later, demands for grants of all the Ministers were also approved by the Legislature after debate. Tomorrow, the budget in the form of Appropriation Bills will be taken up for passing by the Assembly.
The budget is likely to be approved by the House after a brief reply by Omar Abdullah.
In remaining seven sittings in second part of the budget session, two have been fixed for the Government business (March 28 and April 4), two for Private Members’ Bills (March 30 and April 1) and two for Private Members’ Resolutions (March 31 and April 2).
Omar presented Rs 1,13,767 crore worth budget for the financial year 2026-27 in the Legislature on February 6.
“In addition to routine business like Government and Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions, the issues like restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, downgrading of security of some Congress leaders as claimed by them, setting up of National Law University in both regions of the UT etc are expected to be taken up by the legislators,” the sources said.
The Private Members’ Bills like ban on sale and purchase of liquor and tobacco, creation of new divisions, land bill, regularization of daily wagers, if taken up in the Legislature, could also generate heat in the House.
The session is also expected to witness chaotic scenes as members of opposition parties also likely to corner the National Conference Government over its poll promises and restoration of Statehood.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather supervised all necessary preparations for the session with a focus on ensuring smooth conduct and effective utilisation of time.
The budget session will conclude on April 4 unless extended if there is any urgent Government business.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has recommended the introduction and consideration of a private member bill moved by PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para.
According to an official order, issued in pursuance of sub-section (1) of Section 36 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the Lieutenant Governor accorded approval for introduction of the Bill styled as “the Jammu and Kashmir Territorial Administrative Reorganization Bill, 2026” in the assembly.
The proposed legislation calls for the creation of new administrative divisions, including a Chenab Division with headquarters in Doda and a Pir Panjal Division with headquarters in Rajouri, in addition to the existing divisions.
The bill also proposes the creation of several new districts in the Kashmir division, including the Tral-Awantipora hill district, Ashmuqam-Pahalgam hill district, Beerwah, Sopore, Handwara, Gurez, Tangdhar-Karnah hill district and the Norabad hill district.
In the Jammu division, the bill suggests the formation of new hill districts such as Nowshera, Bhaderwah, Banihal, Thathri, Akhnoor, Billawar, Kotranka and Mendhar for focused administrative planning.
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