IIOJK MLAs barred from raising questions on LG-controlled departments
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Speaker of the so-called Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, has directed legislators not to raise questions related to departments that fall under the jurisdiction of the Lieutenant Governor, reaffirming that key administrative powers remain concentrated in the LG’s office.
According to Kashmir Media Service, during the Assembly session held in Srinagar, the Speaker ruled that a question submitted by MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed regarding the Home Department had to be deleted, citing provisions of the J&K Reorganisation Act. The MLA had sought reasons for the delay in granting ex-gratia relief under SRO-43 to the families of victims of “violence” in the territory.
Khursheed, representing the Awami Ittehad Party, had specifically asked the government to clarify the timeline for compensation to the next of kin of victims, but the Speaker stated that the issue could not be discussed as the Home Department is directly under the Lieutenant Governor’s control.
Political observers say the ruling once again underscores that the so-called Assembly remains powerless and subservient to the administration run by New Delhi through the LG. The opposition members expressed concern that elected representatives are being denied even basic oversight over governance in the occupied territory.
