Stick to rules on House notices, says Speaker; akin to martial law: Mufti

Expressing displeasure over the publicity of House business notices ahead of the Budget Session, Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, has asked members to refrain from “breach of privilege.” He stated that such actions violate parliamentary practices, conventions, and established rules.

The Budget Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly is scheduled to begin on March 3.

According to an official statement, the Speaker asserted, “According to Parliamentary practice, usage and established convention, and prevalent rules of this house, it is improper to give unwarranted publicity to the notices of questions, bills, resolutions and other similar matters connected with Business of the House.”

Expressing displeasure over members engaging in such publicity, Rather stated that such actions amount to a breach of privilege under the prescribed rules. He directed members to refrain from this practice in the future.

MLAs from the PDP, NC, and other parties have submitted private member bills seeking a complete ban on alcohol sales in J&K. The Peoples Democratic Party has also launched a signature campaign advocating for the ban.

The Speaker’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from Opposition parties. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti accused the Speaker of imposing a form of martial law.

In a post on X, Mufti wrote, “While Rather Sahab may be concerned with preserving the sanctity of legislative proceedings, as Speaker, his primary role is to safeguard the rights of members, not to act as a censor. Transparency and public awareness of legislative activities should not be seen as an infringement on parliamentary practices.”

She further stated, “On the contrary, informing the public about notices, questions, and resolutions in advance promotes accountability. Many significant parliamentary bills, such as the recent Waqf Bill, are debated publicly for months. Regrettably, it appears that Rather Sahab is imposing a form of martial law.”