Ishtiyaq Kar
Jammu, Feb 4: The Rules Committee, led by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather and constituted to draft rules of procedure for conducting business in the Legislative Assembly, held its meeting on Tuesday in Jammu.
Officials said the meeting, convened at the Legislative Assembly complex Jammu, focused on refining rules governing legislative procedures.
The nine-member committee, constituted on December 24, 2024, under Rule 363 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, aims to finalize amendments before the upcoming Budget Session in March.
BJP MLA R.S. Pathania, who attended the meeting, said that the panel discussed the business rules.
“There is a need for minor modifications, and the committee is actively working on refining procedural aspects. Further discussions will continue in the next meeting, scheduled for February 11,” he said.
Sources revealed that the primary objective of the meeting was to review and approve proposed changes.
A committee member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the proposed modifications aim to enhance the efficiency of Assembly proceedings.
This was the third meeting of the committee, following previous sessions on January 1 and January 7, 2025. Earlier discussions focused on updating outdated references in the existing procedural framework. While the committee can suggest changes, the power to formulate new rules rests with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who must consult the Speaker before making final decisions.
The Rules Committee comprises legislators from various political parties include Mubarak Gul (NC) – Former Speaker, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami (CPI-M), Saifullah Mir (NC), Nizam-ud-Din Bhat (Congress) Pawan Kumar Gupta (BJP), Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi (NC) R.S. Pathania (BJP) Muzaffar Iqbal Khan (Independent).
The Speaker serves as the ex-officio chairman of the committee.
The committee is expected to finalize the revised Rules of Procedure before the Budget Session, beginning March 3, 2025. The session, anticipated to last until March 21, will include two days dedicated to private members’ bills and resolutions, pending confirmation by the Business
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has formally summoned the J&K Legislative Assembly for its Budget Session, marking the first full-fledged budget under Omar Abdullah’s government following the return of an elected administration after seven years of direct central rule.
“I, Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, in the exercise of the powers conferred upon me under Section 18(1) of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, do hereby summon the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly to meet at Jammu on Monday, the 3rd day of March 2025, at 10:00 AM.”
The LG is expected to address the Assembly on the first day, outlining the government’s legislative priorities for the coming year.
If a majority of committee members approve the draft rules, they will be forwarded to LG Manoj Sinha for final approval. Once ratified, these changes will take effect in the upcoming Budget Session, shaping the future of legislative proceedings in Jammu and Kashmir.(KINS)
