Srinagar, Oct 27 : The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Monday declined a request from Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone to hold a discussion on the Union Territory’s reservation policy, with Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather ruling that the issue was both sub-judice and not of recent occurrence.
Soon after the completion of the question hour, Lone sought permission to move an adjournment motion over what he described as the government’s inaction in rationalizing the reservation framework. He informed the House that his motion had been submitted earlier for consideration.
The Speaker, however, turned down the request, saying that the motion did not meet the procedural requirements outlined in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business. He explained that an adjournment motion must relate to a matter of recent and urgent public importance, which, in this case, did not apply.
“This subject has already been discussed in the Assembly on earlier occasions,” Rather observed while noting that a government-appointed committee is currently examining the reservation issue. He further said that since the matter is under judicial consideration, it cannot be debated in the House at this stage.
The Speaker’s decision effectively ended the attempt to reopen discussion on the policy, which has been a point of contention among several political parties in the region. Lone, who represents the Peoples Conference, has repeatedly called for a review of the existing reservation system, arguing that it requires transparency and accountability in implementation.
No further discussion was permitted on the subject during the day’s proceedings, and the Assembly moved on to the next item on the agenda. —(KNS)
