Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Unites Against Absenteeism of Senior Officers

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly saw cross-party unity as members protested the absence of senior officers during crucial discussions. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather promised to address this issue with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, emphasizing the necessity for relevant officers to be present to ensure accountability.

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday saw a rare moment of unity among its members as they collectively criticized the absence of senior officers during important legislative discussions. This situation prompted Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to escalate the issue to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

The concern was first raised by National Conference legislator Nazir Ahmad Gurezi towards the close of Question Hour. His remarks received overwhelming support from both treasury and opposition benches, leading to a united protest. The Speaker assured the house that the issue was taken seriously and underlined the importance of having relevant officers available for questions related to their departments.

Lawmakers expressed their dissatisfaction with the current practice, with BJP's Sham Lal Sharma calling it inappropriate. He urged for a formal notice to be issued to the chief secretary for an explanation. The assembly members highlighted their expectation for accountability and called for officers to attend these critical sessions without fail.

(With inputs from agencies.)