Speaker Constitutes Business Advisory Committee Amid BJP’s Demand to Nullify Assembly Proceedings

Jammu, March 12: A political storm erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly after BJP legislators demanded that all proceedings conducted without a duly constituted Business Advisory Committee (BAC) be declared “null and void.” The demand, spearheaded by senior BJP leaders including MLA Jammu North Sham Lal Sharma and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, led to heated exchanges between BJP and National Conference (NC) members. In response to mounting pressure, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather announced the formation of a nine-member BAC under his chairmanship.

The controversy began when BJP legislators objected to the Assembly functioning without a BAC, arguing that the committee plays a crucial role in finalizing the provisional calendar of the House’s business. Sham Lal Sharma criticized the delay in constituting the committee, citing parliamentary conventions that require the Speaker, the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and other senior legislators to be members.

Defending the government’s position, Speaker Rather clarified that as per the rules, the provisional calendar of the business is issued by the Speaker in consultation with the Leader of the House before the commencement of the session. He further stated that while forming a BAC on the first day is not mandatory, it primarily functions to suggest amendments to ongoing business. However, acknowledging the concerns of the House, Rather assured the members that the committee would be constituted if deemed necessary.

During discussions on grants for the Health and Medical Education, Education, and Social Welfare Departments, Assembly Chairman Mubarak Gul proposed a second sitting of the House in light of the holy month of Ramzan. This suggestion triggered a division among members. BJP MLAs, along with NC legislators and ministers including Sakeena Itoo and Javed Dar, disagreed over whether to hold two sittings or extend the existing session’s timing until 2 PM.

As the debate continued, Sham Lal Sharma raised concerns over the BAC’s absence, insisting that only the committee has the authority to decide on session schedules. When Gul attempted to pacify Sharma by confirming that two sittings would commence from the following day, Sharma threatened to boycott proceedings, terming the delay in forming the BAC a “serious lapse.” His attempt to stage a walkout was thwarted by Gul.

Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma backed Sharma’s stance, terming the lack of a BAC a procedural oversight. The BJP MLAs, led by Sunil Sharma, Sham Lal Sharma, and Surjeet Singh Slathia, reiterated their demand that all legislative proceedings conducted so far be nullified.

In response, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo accused the BJP of unnecessarily politicizing the issue, arguing that the ruling party was well-versed in legislative rules. “The BJP legislators are portraying the absence of BAC as a grave blunder, as if they alone understand the Assembly’s functioning while treasury bench members do not,” she asserted.

Sham Lal Sharma, visibly irked by Itoo’s remarks, retorted, “Are we to be lectured on parliamentary procedures now?” The heated exchanges forced Mubarak Gul to intervene, urging restraint among members. He assured the House that a decision regarding the BAC would be conveyed after discussions on grants concluded. However, BJP legislators persisted with their objections.

As legislative proceedings resumed, BJP MLA from Udhampur Pawan Gupta raised objections over the clubbing of multiple departmental grants, arguing that limited discussion time restricted members from effectively addressing constituency-specific concerns.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary defended the government’s stance, emphasizing that forming a BAC was at the Leader of the House’s discretion. He also accused the NC-led government of inheriting unresolved governance issues from the previous PDP-BJP administration.

Countering this, Sham Lal Sharma pointed out that while the BAC is responsible for scheduling House business, the committee itself had yet to be constituted. When Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather resumed his position, he reiterated that the provisional business calendar had already been issued in compliance with existing rules. He maintained that the BAC’s formation was not obligatory on the first day but agreed to its necessity if the House so decided.

Following the escalating demands and political friction, the Legislative Assembly formally constituted the BAC under Rule 317 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business. The nine-member committee, chaired by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, comprises:

1. 1. Sunil Sharma (Leader of Opposition)
   2. Ali Mohammad Sagar (NC)
   3. Mubarak Gul (NC)
   4. Y. Tarigami (CPI-M)
   5. A. Mir (Congress)
   6. Sajad Gani Lone (People’s Conference)
   7. Mir Mohammad Fayaz (PDP)
   8. Choudhary Mohammad Akram (Independent MLA)

The formation of the BAC is expected to restore procedural order in the Legislative Assembly, though political tensions remain high between the ruling and opposition parties.