Speaker’s grilling on car policy puts minister in tight spot

Srinagar, Sep 24: Transport Minister Satish Sharma on Thursday struggled to reply to questions posed by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather in the Legislative Assembly over the delay in implementing the revised car policy proposing the principle of “one officer, one vehicle.”
During Question Hour, Sharma informed the House that the revised car policy is under consideration.
He said the proposed policy would provide for specific exceptions as may be considered necessary by the government, keeping in view security requirements, field duties, additional assignments/charges, operational exigencies, and functional requirements of particular departments and organisations.
Sharma added that once approved, the revised policy would be implemented across departments, PSUs, boards, and autonomous bodies to rationalise government vehicles, ensure optimum utilisation of resources, and promote economy in government expenditure. He said the General Administration Department had given a go‑ahead to the policy on September 1 and that it would be notified within two months.
Intervening in the matter, the Speaker questioned the minister over the delay in implementing the report. “You said it will take two months to notify the new policy. That means the earlier policy is still in vogue. But you also said the 2015 policy is not relevant. You constituted a committee, and they submitted a report. On September 1, the GAD gave your department the go‑ahead to issue orders. Tell me, what have you done in these 24 days? How many months do you take to go through files? This is an important matter,” Rather asked.
Pressing further, the Speaker said, “Would it take two more months?” The minister responded that inter‑departmental consultations were taking place.
Rather countered, asking what consultations were needed when a high‑level committee had already deliberated on the matter and submitted its recommendations. Finding himself cornered, Sharma struggled to defend the delay. “I will study the file and provide you information,” the minister said.
The Speaker then questioned why officers holding charge of more than one department were using two vehicles. “It is a question of state resources. Jammu & Kashmir is a poor state and it cannot afford luxury,” he remarked. (KNO)