SRINAGAR: Employees of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday staged a protest inside the Assembly premises against a General Administration Department (GAD) order deputing KAS officer Bilal Ahmad Mir to the Assembly Secretariat.
The protesting employees raised slogans and objected to the deputation, saying the move was contrary to the established rules and administrative procedures governing the Assembly Secretariat. They demanded that the government review the order immediately.
The employees said the Assembly Secretariat has its own established cadre and maintained that the deputation should be reconsidered. They also warned that they would continue to press for their demand until the order is reviewed.
The issue also drew a sharp response from PDP MLA and legislative party leader Waheed Ur Rehman Para, who questioned the deputation of an officer from outside the Assembly cadre.
In a post on X, Para said the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was “perhaps the last institution directly accountable to the people”, as it makes laws and holds the government to account.
J&K Assembly is perhaps the last institution directly accountable to the people. It makes laws and holds the government to account.
Yet, for the first time, GAD has reportedly appointed an officer from outside the Assembly cadre to the Assembly Secretariat, breaking established…
— Waheed Ur Rehman Para (@parawahid) August 20, 2026
He alleged that, for the first time, the GAD had appointed an officer from outside the Assembly cadre to the Assembly Secretariat, describing it as a departure from established precedent.
“This is not a routine posting. It undermines the Assembly’s autonomy, dignity and authority,” Para said.
He further said the development was more concerning as it was taking place under an elected government.
Para urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to withdraw the order, tagging the chief minister and the J&K Chief Minister’s Office in his post.
The staff, meanwhile, said they would continue their protest until their concerns regarding the deputation order are addressed.
