J&K Cabinet Recommends Autumn Assembly Session From October 13 Amid Rising Statehood, Reservation Demands

Srinagar, 23-09-2025: The political calendar of Jammu and Kashmir is set to intensify next month, with the cabinet on Wednesday formally recommending to the Lieutenant Governor that the Autumn Session of the Legislative Assembly be convened from October 13. The decision, taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and attended by all ministers, paves the way for what is expected to be a short but potentially stormy session.

According to sources, the cabinet has advised that the sitting should begin on October 13 and continue for about a week, concluding on October 20. While the number of days is limited, the agenda is likely to be weighty, with the contentious issues of statehood and reservations set to dominate debates on the floor.

The timing of the session is also significant from a constitutional standpoint. As per the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, there cannot be a gap of more than six months between two Assembly sittings. The law mandates that the Lieutenant Governor summon the Assembly periodically, ensuring that the interval between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next does not exceed half a year. With the last sitting held on April 29, the deadline for convening the next session falls on October 28. The cabinet’s recommendation, therefore, not only honours this statutory requirement but also signals the government’s intent to address urgent political and legislative issues before the deadline.

Observers expect the session to be particularly charged. The demand for the restoration of full statehood is once again expected to take centre stage. During the previous Assembly session, three resolutions related to statehood lapsed after heated disruptions. The National Conference had stalled proceedings following the rejection of its adjournment motion on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, creating an impasse that overshadowed other business. With the issue unresolved, opposition legislators are likely to use the upcoming session to revive the debate, intensifying pressure on the government to clarify its position on one of the most pressing political demands in the region.

The matter of reservations is also expected to feature prominently. In the last session, repeated interventions were made on the subject, most notably by Sajad Gani Lone, the People’s Conference President and MLA from Handwara, who sharply criticised the government’s approach. The allocation of reservations in government jobs and educational institutions remains a politically sensitive matter, with sections of the population alleging imbalances and unfair reductions in the share of the general category. The forthcoming discussions could prove pivotal in shaping how the government intends to navigate this delicate issue.

While the agenda will be formally released closer to the session’s commencement, sources suggest that other issues including relief and rehabilitation measures following recent floods, administrative reforms, and pending bills could also surface during the limited sittings. Whether the short duration will allow for meaningful debate on such wide-ranging concerns remains to be seen.

Beyond the legislative calendar, the decision to convene the Assembly from October 13 also holds symbolic weight. It signals the government’s attempt to strike a balance between procedural obligations under the Reorganisation Act and the political imperative of addressing public demands at a sensitive time. With the twin debates over statehood and reservations set to dominate headlines, the Autumn Session could become a microcosm of the wider tensions and aspirations shaping Jammu and Kashmir’s political discourse today.