Speaker Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, today convened a high-level meeting with the Chairmen of various Assembly Committees to apprise them of their functions and outline their core responsibilities for ensuring robust governance.
Surjeet Singh Slathia, (Chairman Committee on Public Accounts), Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi (Chairman, Committee on Estimates), Mir Saifullah (Chairman, Committee on Public Undertakings), Ali Mohammad Sagar (Chairman, Committee on Government Assurances), Nizam-ud-din Bhat (Chairman, Ethics Committee), Justice Retd Hasnain Masoodi (Chairman, Committee on Privileges), Muzaffar Iqbal Khan (Chairman, Committee on Subordinate Legislation) and Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah (Chairman, Committee on Petitions) were present in the meeting.
During the meeting, the Speaker underscored the pivotal role of Assembly Committees in enforcing the rxecutive accountability. He emphasized that this is achieved through rigorous, detailed and non-partisan scrutiny of government policies, public expenditure and proposed legislation.
To streamline the operations and enhance the efficiency of parliamentary oversight, the Speaker issued several key directives aimed at ensuring accountability of the executive. The Speaker took a firm stance on absenteeism, stating that the members must not absent themselves consecutively from two or more sittings of a Committee.
Any such unauthorized absence will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the J&K Legislative Assembly. He said that a minimum gap of 15 days shall be maintained between two consecutive meetings in order to provide adequate time to the Assembly Secretariat as well as the concerned government departments to efficiently process, prepare and furnish the agenda items, reply thereto and related materials for the meetings.
To ensure thorough scrutiny, the Speaker stressed that only one government department be taken up for examination during a single sitting by any particular Committee. Besides, Committee deliberations must remain strictly confined to the scheduled agenda points to ensure focused and productive outcomes, he added.
The Speaker exhorted that the General Administration Department in coordination with the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Department should ensure close coordination among various departments and the Assembly Secretariat for making the functioning of the Committees effective, meaningful and result oriented.
The Speaker asserted that a Circular should be issued by the General Administration Department to all the departments with regard to implementation of the recommendations/Observations contained in the reports laid on the table of the House from time to time impressing upon them to strictly adhere to the Rules of procedure and Conduct of Business in J&K Legislative Assembly.
He added that the agenda work load shall be provided by CAG. The Speaker concluded the meeting by urging all the Chairmen to lead their respective committees with dedication, ensuring that the legislative oversight mechanism remains a powerful instrument for public welfare and transparent governance.
The meeting was also attended by Commissioner Secretary GAD M. Raju, Secretary JKLA Manoj Pandita along with senior officers from Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs and Assembly Secretariat.