J&K Assembly Autumn Session Begins with Obituary Tributes; BJP Protest Over Power Tariff, Job Outsourcing Forces Adjournment

The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly’s autumn session began Monday with obituary references to three former ministers, before proceedings were adjourned for the day amid continued protests by BJP members over the power tariff hike, outsourcing of government jobs, and regularisation of daily wagers and NHM employees.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather paid tributes to former Ministers Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Dharam Paul, and Ghulam Hassan Khan during obituary references. The House observed a two-minute silence in their memory. The Speaker urged members to make judicious use of the session’s time and work with dedication to meet the expectations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The 10-day session, comprising seven sittings, is scheduled to run from September 21 to September 30.

As soon as the Speaker called for Question Hour after the obituary references, BJP members stood from their chairs and began protesting with slogans. The BJP members, carrying placards, protested against the recent power tariff hike, outsourcing of government jobs, and demanded regularisation of daily wagers and NHM employees, among other issues.

The placards carried messages including “Do Justice to NHM Employees,” “Enhance the honorarium of Anganwari and Asha workers,” and “Revoke the electricity tariff hike”.

The Speaker urged the protesting BJP members to return to their seats and allow Question Hour to proceed. The BJP members intensified their protest and marched into the Well of the House to force the Speaker to adjourn the Question Hour and start a discussion on their issues.

Amid the din, ruling alliance members from the National Conference, Congress, and CPI(M) raised slogans demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. CPI(M) MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said two years had passed but the promise of statehood had not been fulfilled. Senior NC MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar led the treasury benches in raising statehood slogans while also raising slogans against the BJP.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said the government was prepared to respond to all questions raised by the Opposition, but they should ask one by one. He said it was clear the BJP was not interested in public welfare.

The Speaker directed that the BJP’s protest should not be recorded in the proceedings and should not be reported. He asked the BJP legislators to raise their issues during their time, but the Opposition did not relent.

Following the continued disruption, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the House for the day.

The autumn session is expected to be stormy, with opposition parties including the BJP set to corner the Omar Abdullah government on unfulfilled poll promises, including 200 free units of electricity, 1 lakh government jobs, 12 free cylinders, and regularisation of daily wagers. The recent power tariff hike, flawed reservation policy, and delay in holding panchayat and urban local body polls are also expected to be raised.

Valley-based parties including the PDP, Peoples Conference, and independent MLA Sheikh Khursheed are likely to forcefully raise the issue of reservation in Jammu and Kashmir, outsourcing of jobs, and regulation of daily wagers.

As per the present reservation policy, Open Merit jobs have fallen to 30-40 per cent despite the general category population being 60 per cent, while reserved categories have about 60-70 per cent reservation. Valley-based parties have demanded rationalisation of the reservation policy and pressed for at least a 50 per cent cap for Open Merit.

PDP MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para moved an adjournment motion seeking an urgent debate on the reservation framework, alleging its cumulative impact has pushed Open Merit candidates to the wall. He flagged that against 26,558 EWS certificates issued across the Union Territory, 24,545 were issued in Jammu Division and only 2,013 in Kashmir Division.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has formulated four major road infrastructure projects worth ₹323.41 crore to decongest Sopore town and improve connectivity to key routes, including the Sopore Fruit Mandi.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary stated this while replying to a question raised by MLA Sopore Irshad Rasool Kar during Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.

The Deputy Chief Minister informed the House that the projects were formulated on the recommendations of the concerned MLA. He said the government is currently identifying funding sources under relevant plans or schemes.

Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo informed the Assembly that the government is taking sustained measures to strengthen healthcare delivery in remote areas, including Karnah.

Replying to a question by MLA Javaid Ahmad Mirchal, the Minister said 480 Medical Officer (Allopathic) posts were referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission. Against these, 416 candidates have been recommended and 335 have been appointed so far. The newly appointed doctors will be deployed with priority to peripheral, underserved, and difficult-area health institutions including ALC areas.

Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Satish Sharma said 8,79,112 beneficiaries have been covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana in Jammu and Kashmir as on January 1, 2025.

Replying to a question by Sajad Gani Lone, the Minister said the government has announced a provision for refilling costs of six free domestic LPG cylinders per annum for AAY families through Aadhaar-enabled Direct Benefit Transfer. Implementation is underway and various modalities are being examined. Financial implications will be worked out upon finalization.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary informed the House that the government follows a transparent and rule-based mechanism for allotment of works, including those where accepted bids are lower than departmental estimates.

Replying to a question by MLA Mehraj Malik, the Deputy Chief Minister said departmental estimates are prepared as per the applicable Schedule of Rates, site conditions, and approved technical specifications. Works are allotted through competitive e-tendering to the lowest responsive and eligible bidder.

Minister Sakeena Itoo informed the Assembly that the government is undertaking long-term measures to augment potable water supply in S.D. Colony, Batamaloo, Aloochi Bagh, and adjoining areas.

Replying on behalf of the Minister-in-charge Housing and Urban Development Department to a question by MLA Lal Chowk Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed Pardesi, the Minister said a 70,000-gallon RCC Overhead Tank is under construction at Danderkha, Batamaloo, under AMRUT 2.0. The work is targeted for completion by the end of 2026-27.

Another 70,000-gallon OHT at Khadi Mill, Aloochi Bagh, is under construction at an estimated cost of ₹213.00 lakh. Upon commissioning, it is expected to improve water supply to approximately 477 households in Aloochi Bagh and adjoining areas.