Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday reiterated that his government is committed to filling vacancies in a time-bound manner, announcing that over 30,000 vacancies will be filled in 2026.
The chief minister made these remarks while replying to a question raised by member Prof Gharu Ram Bhagat during the Question Hour of the ongoing Budget session of the legislative Assembly.
Informing the House, the chief minister stated that vacancies arise from time to time in various government departments, including field-level posts, due to retirements, promotions, resignations and other administrative reasons.
“There are institutional mechanisms in place for periodic assessment of vacancies and timely referral to the concerned recruiting agencies in accordance with the statutory provisions,” he said.
He further noted that to ensure essential services and field-level functions are not adversely affected, adequate staff strength is maintained across departments. “Wherever necessary, interim administrative arrangements are adopted in accordance with established rules”, he said.
The government, he said, has taken several measures to expedite the filling up of vacancies.
“These include advance identification and consolidation of vacancies, time-bound referral of requisitions to recruiting agencies, streamlining of procedural requirements, regular monitoring at the administrative level, and ensuring efficiency and transparency in the recruitment process.”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also informed the Legislative Assembly that there has been no hike in power tariff since December 2023. He stated that billing in metered areas is carried out strictly as per actual electricity consumption, while in non-metered areas, bills are raised on a flat-rate basis in accordance with the agreed load, without any arbitrariness.
The CM was replying to a question raised by Dr. Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri during the Question Hour of the ongoing Budget Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
Responding to a supplementary regarding rationalisation of power tariff, the chief minister informed the House that tariff determination falls within the domain of the regulatory authority, namely the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC). He said the tariff is fixed strictly in accordance with the rationale and parameters laid down by the regulator.
The chief minister further clarified that Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses are not realised from consumers.
“Kishtwar ‘Zakat’ decision taken in consultation with religious leaders”
Urging lawmakers to desist from ‘doing politics on everything’, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while responding to the concerns of some MLAs regarding a government about “Zakat” (alms) collection, said, he he personally investigated the matter to determine if the State was overstepping and clarified that the deputy commissioner (DC) of Kishtwar did not act on a whim or a political order, but on a direct plea of Muslim community leaders in the district.
Immediately after the Question Hour ended in the Assembly, Abdullah raised a point of order as he wanted to respond to concerns voiced by Congress MLAs Nizamuddin Bhat and Ghulam Ahmed Mir on Thursday. The two Congress legislators, along with other MLAs, had criticised a recent administrative order in Kishtwar, regulating donations.
Addressing the floor, Abdullah said he personally investigated the matter to determine if the State was overstepping and clarified that the deputy commissioner (DC) of Kishtwar did not act on a whim or a political order, but on a direct plea of Muslim community leaders in the district.
During pre-Ramzan preparatory meetings, local Muslim religious leaders had expressed deep concern over the rise of “fake NGOs” that exploit the holy month to defraud donors.
“Money is collected in the name of patients who may not even exist,” Abdullah said, adding, “The religious leaders requested the DC to issue this order because legitimate NGOs were being harmed by these fraudulent actors.”
Far from being seen as “interference”, the chief minister noted that the order has received a formal backing from the imam of Kishtwar’s Jama Masjid, local maulvis and prominent religious organisations in the region.
Abdullah took aim at the knee-jerk political reactions, saying not every administrative decision should be viewed through a political lens and that such decisions are often taken in consultation with people.
“I would like to request the members and others that we should not do politics on everything,” he said, adding, “We should go into details. Sometimes these decisions are not taken on a political basis, they are taken after consulting people. We should not put these things in politics.”
The chief minister’s remarks were acknowledged by the members of the treasury as well as opposition benches.
Kishtwar district authorities issued an order on Wednesday, regulating the collection of donations during the holy month, citing concerns over unauthorised fundraising.
In the order, Kishtwar DC Pankaj Kumar Sharma said it is the administration’s statutory obligation to ensure that public contributions intended for relief, welfare or religious purposes are not misappropriated, laundered or diverted for extraneous or subversive activities.
“There has been a tendency of unauthorised collection of donations by certain individuals and organisations during Ramzan, necessitating immediate regulatory intervention,” Sharma said.
“Three tourism projects worth Rs 307 lakh completed in Ramgarh, another underway”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said three tourism projects have been completed in in Ramgarh constituency at a cost of Rs 307.12 lakh under the Capex budget and another project is currently in progress
Abdullah was replying to a question raised by BJP MLA from Ramgarh constituency Devinder Kumar Manyal that was asked on his behalf by BJP MLA Surjeet Singh Slathia during the question hour.
The tourism development plan for the year 2026–27 has not yet been formulated. However, new projects for Ramgarh constituency will be considered for 2026–27, subject to feasibility as per established tourism norms, availability of funds and necessary approvals, the CM said.
Replying to another question, Abdullah, who also holds the tourism portfolio, stated that Rs 123.41 lakh was sanctioned under the Capex budget for the development and beautification of Sidh Goria temple in Samba district.
The works included beautification of the surrounding area, construction of parking facilities and toilet blocks, development of a pond, installation and commissioning of high mast lights and allied works, he said, adding that the project stands physically completed.
The CM further said that Rs 100 lakh was sanctioned under the Capex budget for the development of Baba Chamlyal Shrine. The sanctioned works comprised construction of flooring and pathways, installation of lights and allied works, which have also been physically completed.
Abdullah added that the department undertakes publicity of the annual mela at Sidh Goria Temple and Baba Chamlyal Shrine through flex hoardings, newspaper advertisements and booklets to promote religious tourism.
Regarding other religious sites including Ganga Mata Temple, Banu Temple and Ram Temple, he stated that their development will be considered in future, subject to feasibility, availability of funds and necessary approvals.
