Srinagar, Sept 23, KDC: The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet meeting is underway in Srinagar to decide the schedule of the upcoming Assembly session, which must be convened before October 28 to meet the mandatory six-month deadline.
Sources said that the session is expected to be a brief one with 5–7 sittings, where issues such as flood damages, detention of AAP MLA from Doda Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA), restoration of Statehood, and demands for a larger share for the general category in jobs and educational institutions are likely to dominate the proceedings.
The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, begun at 10 AM at the Civil Secretariat. Besides finalising the Assembly session, the Cabinet is also expected to review House Rent Allowance (HRA) proposals and the pace of relief and restoration works following recent floods.
Officials said the Assembly Secretariat had already written to the Law Department about the approaching deadline and the one-month notice required for legislators to submit questions, private member’s bills, and resolutions. The timeline puts September 28 as the cut-off date.
Indications suggest the Government may convene the session after October 20, factoring in Diwali and Bhaiya Dooj festivals. The Lieutenant Governor will formally issue the order convening the Legislature once the Cabinet recommends the dates, while the Speaker will finalise the business calendar.
Opposition parties are gearing up to use the session to press the Government on issues ranging from natural calamity damages to political detentions. A few new bills are also expected, with specific days to be reserved for private member’s business.
The last budget session was held from March 3 to April 9, followed by a one-day special session on April 28 in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. As per rules, the Assembly must meet at least once every six months. (KDC)
