In a session marked by heated exchanges, Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather rejected amendments proposed by Peoples Conference President Sajad Gani Lone concerning Article 370, Article 35A, the restoration of statehood, and the rationalization of reservation policies. The Speaker's decision came on Monday, February 3rd, following the Question Hour.
Lone, the Handwara MLA, voiced his objections to the disallowance of his amendments, arguing that they addressed critical issues concerning the political rights, constitutional status, and socio-economic future of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He contended that these amendments should not be sidelined and urged the Chair to allow them to be discussed on the floor of the House, emphasizing the Assembly's role as the most legitimate forum for such deliberations.
Speaker Rather defended his decision by stating that the Assembly's rules prohibit discussions on matters already debated or decided upon by the House. He also clarified that the restoration of statehood lies outside the legislative authority of the elected Assembly. According to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Speaker said he had disallowed the amendment because the Rules prohibit discussion on matters that have already been debated or on which the House has already taken a decision.
Lone contested the ruling, clarifying that he was not seeking legislation on statehood but rather aiming to express the House's intent regarding its restoration. This disagreement reportedly led to sharp exchanges within the House before proceedings resumed.
Outside the Assembly, Lone told the media that one of the rejected amendments pertained to a clear articulation of continued efforts towards Article 370, Article 35-A, and the restoration of J&K's statehood. The other concerned the revival of intra-district and intra-divisional recruitment to address employment challenges faced by local youth seeking rationalization of reservation. He emphasized the importance of "substance over spectacle" within the Assembly. He noted that only four of his six proposed amendments to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's Budget Session speech the day before had been accepted.
The four amendments that were accepted related to the safety of Kashmiris, the regularisation of daily wagers, enhanced opportunities for civil service aspirants and the status and location of the proposed National Law University (NLU) in Kashmir, and a “strong, explicit condemnation of attacks on Kashmiris, along with clarity on the State Government's engagement with other states on the issue”.
The issue of harassment of Kashmiris was also raised in the House by NC MLA Mubarak Gul and PDP's Waheed Parra.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is set to introduce two major Bills focusing on governance reforms and social justice during the Legislative Assembly session. One bill seeks to amend certain Union Territory laws to decriminalize and rationalize offenses, promoting trust-based governance and improving ease of living and doing business. The second bill aims to amend existing enactments to remove discrimination and ensure equal treatment for persons affected by leprosy, enabling the Union Territory to fulfill its affirmative action obligations.