Jammu: Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, on Friday appreciated the efforts of the Department of Information and Public Relations and other departments for ensuring the smooth conduct of the Budget Session 2026.
Rather said the Department of Information and Public Relations played an important role in facilitating media coverage and dissemination of proceedings during the session.
He also lauded the role of the Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Police, Health, Transport, Power, Hospitality and Protocol departments for maintaining seamless arrangements throughout the session.
The Speaker said their collective efforts ensured orderly proceedings, security management, logistical support and uninterrupted services for legislators, officials, media personnel and visitors.
The Information Department had established a dedicated press room in the Assembly complex and deployed teams for media facilitation, coverage of proceedings and timely dissemination of information. The department also managed media coordination and the public address system during the session.
At the same time, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and members across party lines praised Abdul Rahim Rather for the successful and impartial conduct of the Budget Session 2026.
Choudhary said the Speaker’s experience and leadership ensured that the House functioned in an orderly and effective manner despite differing viewpoints.
He said first-time MLAs particularly benefited from the Speaker’s guidance and got an opportunity to learn legislative procedures and practices.
The Deputy Chief Minister also appreciated the efforts of Assembly staff and officials, saying their work behind the scenes contributed significantly to the quality of debates and discussions in the House.
He further acknowledged the role of the media in carrying the proceedings of the Assembly to the people and highlighting public issues.
Members including Surjeet Singh Slathia, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Sajad Gani Lone, Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah, Tanvir Sadiq, Mir Saifullah, Rafiq Ahmad Naik, Nazir Ahmad Khan, Sajjad Shaheen, Aijaz Ahmad Jan and Salman Sagar also praised the Speaker.
They said the session was conducted with efficiency, discipline and fairness, and that members were given adequate opportunity to raise constituency-related issues.
The legislators said the Speaker’s emphasis on decorum, equal participation and fair time allocation strengthened the democratic functioning of the House and set a positive benchmark for future sessions.
