New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir witnessed an unusual confrontation between the elected government and the administration after senior bureaucrats asked the Assembly Speaker not to take up a resolution seeking restoration of the Union Territory’s statehood.
Chief Secretary Atal Duloo and Law Secretary Achal Sethi sent separate communications to the Assembly Secretariat, arguing that the matter was sub judice and should therefore not be considered by the House. The letters were sent three days after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah introduced the resolution, which had already been admitted for discussion.
The intervention came shortly before the Assembly was scheduled to debate the resolution. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather questioned the move, describing communication from the bureaucracy directly to the Assembly Secretariat on legislative business as unusual.
Abdullah, who also holds the Law portfolio, said he had not been informed about the officials’ communications before the Assembly Secretariat brought them to his attention. He questioned how bureaucrats could independently send a legal opinion concerning a resolution introduced by the Chief Minister and Law Minister.
The Chief Minister linked the episode to Jammu and Kashmir’s current status as a Union Territory, arguing that the incident demonstrated the limitations faced by an elected government without full statehood.
The resolution was ultimately taken up by the Assembly on Monday amid significant disruption. BJP legislators protested inside the House and later walked out during the proceedings. The Assembly subsequently passed the statehood resolution.
The resolution calls for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and its forwarding to the Government of India. Abdullah has repeatedly raised the issue with the Centre, including during his September meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
