Srinagar, Sept 30: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was adjourned sine die on Wednesday after a tena-day Autumn Session, with Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather describing the brief sitting as “very important” and asserting that the government responded to 625 of the 646 questions received.
After a seven-hour-long sitting on Wednesday, Speaker Rather adjourned the House sine die.
Addressing the House, the Speaker as per Kashmir Convener said the Assembly witnessed seven sittings spanning 25 hours over ten days, during which 646 questions were received, 328 of them starred. Of these, 625 questions were listed, one was withdrawn and 25 were disallowed.
As many as 79 Calling Attention Notices were received, of which 23 were disallowed and 56 allowed. Two government resolutions were moved and both adopted, while of the 70 private resolutions received, seven were listed and one was taken up but not adopted.
The government introduced eight bills, of which six were passed and two withdrawn. “Forty-nine private member bills were pending, and 23 fresh were introduced, with one disallowed. One was taken up by the House,” Rather said, thanking the members.
“As a presiding officer, it is my job to give you opportunities so that you can raise the issues of the people. I said on day one that my effort will be to ensure that no member feels discriminated against. The day I was elected, I said I don’t belong to any party now and will discharge duty without bias. I have tried to be unbiased to the best of my abilities,” he said.
During his interactions with members, Rather said, “I have found that most members do not want to disrupt the House. But they might have pressures from some quarters to disrupt the proceedings.”
He added, “I want to thank you for utilising every second of the session. I compliment your efforts. People have taken the right decision by electing you.”
The Speaker sought the members’ cooperation in the future as well. “I want to help you. If the government does not fulfil any assurances, bring it to my notice. The government is accountable to this House. When the government is accountable, the esteem of the House is upheld,” he added.
No-Trust Motion
Referring to the motion brought by the opposition BJP for his removal, Speaker Rather said he was happy with the discussion on his role. “It will help me to rectify my shortcomings.”
“I have not taken a decision on the no-confidence motion, but I read a commentary that says it lapses. As per rule, a motion can only be listed in business after 14 days. There will not be a session after 14 days,” he said.
Speaker Rather said he even asked the Secretary, Legislative Assembly, to find a way so that the motion does not lapse. “I told them to send it to the law department also for an opinion. I appeal to every member to help me on this. I want this motion to come but only under rules,” he said.
Speaking to Kashmir Converner outside the Assembly after the House was adjourned sine die, Rather, a senior National Conference leader, said the session witnessed meaningful discussion on people’s needs, besides resolutions and bills. “Every session is important. When the session starts, we discuss the needs of the people. This session was also very important,” he said.
Citing figures, he said, “In this small session, we have done a lot of good work. We got 646 questions. Of those, 625 were answered by the government. There were resolutions. There were bills.” The Speaker complimented the members of the House for their participation.
On the BJP’s no-confidence motion against him, Rather appeared unperturbed, saying he had already explained his position and was “happy” about it. “I have explained it. I am happy. They have brought it against me. It is a good thing that they are not my enemies, they are my friends.”
“They are my friends because during this discussion, which will be held at the World of Law Conference, they will get a chance to meet me. And I will get to know about my views,” he added.
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