3 private members’ bills seeking liquor ban in J&K listed among first 5 in Assembly today

BJP MLAs’ bills on DRWs, Minimum Wages Act too figure

Parra’s bill on Chenab, Pir Panjal divisions at last number

JAMMU, Sept 23: Three private members’ bills seeking imposition of ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir which couldn’t be taken up during budget session of the Legislature held in February-April in Jammu this year, have been listed in tomorrow’s Assembly business among first five bills and chances are that they may come up for discussion as two days have been fixed for private bills during ongoing autumn session.

A total of 35 private members’ bills have been listed for introduction in the Assembly tomorrow, as per the business schedule released by the Legislative Assembly Secretariat this evening. Besides September 24, 28th September is also reserved for private members’ bills.

The private members’ bills on prohibition by PDP MLA Mir Mohammad Fayaz, BJP legislator Pawan Kumar Gupta and NC member and former Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar have been listed at Serial Nos. 3, 4 and 5 which are likely to come up for discussion and introduction.

The bill moved by PDP’s Fayaz called for prohibiting the advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption and manufacture of alcoholic drinks in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir while BJP MLA Pawan Gupta’s bill seeks amendment in Jammu and Kashmir Excise Act to impose prohibition in the UT.

Sagar’s bill calls for imposition of complete ban on sale and consumption of liquor in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

AIP MLA Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad’s private member’s bill seeking imposition of complete ban on sale, consumption, storage and transportation of liquor in the Kashmir Valley, in recognition of its social, religious and security sensitivities, has, however, been listed at Serial No. 28.

PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra’s private member bill on reorganization of administrative divisions has also been listed in tomorrow’s business but it figures at last in Serial No. 35. The bill seeks to provide a statutory framework for creation, reorganization and rationalization of administrative divisions, districts, sub divisions and tehsils in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir including the creation of Chenab division and Pir Panjal (Peer Panchal) division.

Two significant private members’ bills have been given by the BJP MLAs and are listed in tomorrow’s business.

The bill by BJP legislators Ranbir Singh Pathania calls for amendment in the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, in its application to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, to provide for automatic revision of minimum wages based on Wholesale Price Index Inflation and a spontaneous mechanism for re-categorization of workers’ skill levels.

Another bill has been moved by BJP MLA and former Minister Devinder Kumar Manyal seeking regularization and grant of permanent status to daily wagers, casual labourers and other similarly placed workers engaged in various departments of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir since the year 1944 and to ensure job security, parity in wages and social security benefits to such workers.

NC legislator Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah has moved a private member’s bill to prohibit, manufacture or sale of polythene in the Kashmir Valley.

PDP MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi has tabled a bill for establishment of Re-integration Commission in Jammu and Kashmir for safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return and reintegration of Kashmiri migrants, particularly Kashmiri Pandits; to facilitate reconciliation, social healing, cultural restoration and coexistence through institutional, community-based and rights-oriented mechanisms.

The bill No. 1 in tomorrow’s list has been tabled by MLA Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad for making it obligatory for public men and servants to educate their children in the Government educational institutions which is followed by NC legislator Dr Syed Bashir Ahmad (Veeri) whose bill seeks to regulate and curb destruction of Karewas by way of excavation of clay, sand, gravel and other material.