SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet has deferred consideration of the proposed Ease of Doing Business Ordinance after some ministers sought a detailed presentation on its provisions, putting the proposed package of business and regulatory reforms on hold for now.
The ordinance, prepared by the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Department headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, was placed before the Cabinet at its recent meeting but was not approved after ministers sought further clarification on aspects of the proposed legislation, official sources said.
The government may take up the proposal for approval through circulation if the departmental presentation is completed shortly. It could then be sent to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for assent, sources said. If the process takes longer, the government is likely to introduce the reforms as a Bill during the forthcoming Assembly session, expected in September.
The proposed legislation seeks to reduce regulatory compliances, simplify approval procedures and limit the requirement for unnecessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for businesses operating in Jammu and Kashmir.
Among the proposed measures are greater use of self-certification, curbs on repeated inspections by different departments and time-bound issuance of inspection reports.
Sources said the proposal also envisages a three-year moratorium on several procedural compliances, allowing entrepreneurs to establish and operate businesses before completing certain non-essential formalities.
The reforms are intended to streamline approvals for sectors including hotels, homestays, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and other commercial establishments.
Officials said the proposed measures were formulated after consultations with concerned departments and are aligned with the Centre’s broader Ease of Doing Business agenda. The package includes simplification and digitisation of procedures, removal of obsolete requirements and decriminalisation of minor regulatory violations.
The government expects the proposed reforms to reduce compliance burdens, encourage entrepreneurship and private investment, create employment opportunities and make it easier to establish and operate businesses in Jammu and Kashmir.
The measures, however, will require approval through the prescribed legislative process before they can take effect.
