Letters from Chief Secretary and Law Secretary on statehood resolution be discussed in Assembly: Congress MLA Nizamuddin Butt

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 30 (STC): Demanding a detailed discussion on the letters sent by the Chief Secretary and Law Secretary regarding the resolution on restoration of statehood in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Congress MLA Bandipora Nizamuddin Butt asked what is the legal basis for treating the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly differently from the legislative assemblies of other states.
The Congress MLA demanded that the correspondence sent by the Chief Secretary and the Law Secretary be made part of the official record of the Assembly so that they can be discussed in detail in the House. He said, “Show me where it has been said that this legislative body is different from the legislative assemblies of the states. Is this mentioned anywhere in the Constitution?” The Congress MLA, referring to Article 239 of the Constitution of India and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, said that there is no justification in either of them on the basis of which the powers of the Legislative Assembly can be limited.
He also objected to the alleged restrictions on the functioning of ministers and the questions raised on the powers of the Speaker. Butt said that this move is “totally unconstitutional” and that the ministers are elected by the people as their representatives, hence they are answerable to the people.
He stressed that the letters of the Chief Secretary and the Law Secretary should be presented before the House so that the members of the assembly can fully discuss the matter and clarify the legal and constitutional aspects. Nizamuddin Butt said that this representative body of Jammu and Kashmir is a reflection of the mandate of the people, hence its powers and privileges should be respected. The issue has been raised in the Assembly at a time when a heated debate is going on in the House regarding the role and powers of the government, opposition and bureaucracy after the approval of the resolution by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah demanding immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
(Straight Talk Communications I Inputs from NNB)