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| Independent Parliamentary Affairs Deptt in J&K still a distant dream | | Secretary's post created in 2010, put in cold storage by Govt | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 24: J&K has the track record of not adhering to or implementing the recommendations made by any forum or institution which are meant to pave way for betterment of the functioning of any system. Whether such recommendations are made by its own Government or at the national level, J&K continues to dither and deviate from mainstream where most of the states adopt such recommendations and resolutions so adopted at the conferences readily. One of the main recommendations which emerged at the national level conference of Presiding officers including Speakers from across the country was to have an independent Parliamentary Affairs department in J&K with one Secretary of the rank of IAS officer who would be at the helm of both the Houses of Legislature. On a sluggish mode as things happen in this state, follow up steps were taken after few years for creating this post. The adoption and implementation of the main recommendation till date remains elusive, thanks to ever resistant NC led Government which disregards such suggestions for the sake of its own interests.
It was in the year February 2005 that during the 13th All India Whibs conference held in Hyderabad that this recommendation was made to have separate, independent Parliamentary department in states which meant to delink Law department from the functioning of Parliamentary affairs. While this was followed in all other States J&K continues to have this still under the purview of the Law Department even as the first step of creating the post of Parliamentary Affairs Secretary stands created way back in the year 2010. Sources within the Law department said during the tenure of Ghulam Nabi Azad as Union parliamentary Affairs Minister, he had strongly vouched for this step to be vigorously adopted in J&K in order to make things function smoothly on this front. When he (Azad) became the Chief Minister he followed up this expeditiously besides taking steps to improve the system in State Legislature in many ways.
Sources said he earmarked huge funds that were spent for renovation of the entire complex besides bringing some order by way of improvising the system of sittings when the legislature was summoned. In 2010, even though the then Cabinet approved the post of Secretary but nothing moved beyond that step for the reasons best known to coalition Government led by Omar Abdullah. Neither the Parliamentary affairs department was made independent of Law Department nor any officer was elevated for the post of Parliamentary Affairs Secretary. This post was meant to be for two years and apart from other things it was desired to have transparency in the functioning of Legislature . In the conference yet another recommendation that has been completely ignored was to have direct and live telecast of the proceedings of Legislature in the State. The concept of the whole new system remained shelved and continues in cold storage said the sources adding that it is the Law department which still controls and commands everything pertaining to Parliamentary Affairs.
Sources also said that contrary to what was desired at the Conference and by the then Chief Minister Mr Azad too, Legislature, Assembly in particular continues to be run in somewhat ambiguous manner with abberations happening at so many fronts. Incumbent Secretary, sources said, is an officer handpicked by NC and he continues to be on this post for the last 7 years, something which is conspicuous by the own standards followed in J&K. Even though many complaints under his tenure with respect to backdoor appointments have come to fore , the enquiries so ordered even by the Governor's House have been withheld notwithstanding pressure and insistence from the then Law Secretary, all due to strong political clout on the back. During his tenure not only the kin of big wigs of NC have been accommodated in the Secretariat but also some leaders of opposition have also been obliged. It is in the backdrop of such facts that the Government is paying no heed to have an independent Parliamentary Affairs Secretary and Department as a whole. |
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