SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Thursday chaired an all-party cum Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting ahead of the Assembly’s Autumn Session, scheduled to begin on September 21.
The meeting focused on ensuring the smooth conduct of the session and providing legislators adequate opportunities to raise public and constituency-specific issues.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mubarik Gul, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Nizamuddin Bhat, Sajad Gani Lone, Mir Mohammad Fayaz and Choudhary Mohammad Akram attended the meeting.
Rather sought suggestions from the members on making the session more productive and responsive to public concerns. He said elected representatives should be given adequate opportunity to raise issues concerning their constituencies and matters of public importance.
“Every eye is on the proceedings of the Assembly and the people are watching how their elected representatives articulate their grievances and raise issues of public importance in the House,” the Speaker said.
He urged members to maintain the dignity, discipline and decorum of the House, while keeping debates focused on public welfare and issues confronting the people.
The BAC members discussed several measures for the effective management of the session. They suggested that Chief Whips and party leaders identify members who would participate in the Zero Hour and submit the list in advance.
The members also proposed restricting the use of mobile phones inside the Assembly Hall to maintain discipline and decorum during proceedings.
The committee stressed the need for timely circulation of the list of Private Members’ Bills and resolutions, besides questions and answers, to enable legislators to study the material and prepare for debates and supplementary questions.
Members also called for adequate time and opportunity for every legislator to raise constituency grievances, public concerns and issues of wider significance in accordance with the rules and approved business of the Assembly.
The Speaker took note of the suggestions and emphasised the collective responsibility of members and other stakeholders in ensuring an orderly and meaningful session.
Secretary, J&K Legislative Assembly, Manoj Kumar Pandit, was also present at the meeting.
