SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Wednesday called for accurate and responsible reporting of House proceedings while interacting with media representatives ahead of the Autumn Session scheduled to begin on September 21.
At a meeting held in Srinagar, Rather discussed arrangements for coverage of the session and sought suggestions from journalists on ensuring smooth and effective reporting of Assembly proceedings.
Addressing representatives of print, electronic and other media organisations, the Speaker said the media plays an important role in strengthening democratic institutions and serving as a link between the government and the public. He stressed the need for factual and objective reporting of legislative proceedings and urged media organisations to focus on debates, discussions and issues of public importance taken up in the House.
Rather said isolated incidents of disruption should not overshadow substantive legislative business, adding that legislative performance and meaningful debate deserved greater attention than disorderly conduct.
Responding to concerns over the duration of the forthcoming session, the Speaker said the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was scheduled to hold seven sittings during the Autumn Session. He noted that several states and Union Territories had conducted fewer sittings during their recent monsoon sessions, citing examples including Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
He also said the Assembly had held 22 sittings during the Budget Session and noted that Assam had conducted a one-day session in June 2025.
During the interaction, journalists raised issues related to the issuance of media passes, accommodation and working facilities for regional, national and international media personnel, sound quality inside the Assembly complex, internet connectivity, parking arrangements and hassle-free entry for authorised journalists.
Rather informed the participants that the General Administration Department (GAD) had already issued a notification to facilitate entry of authorised vehicles of accredited journalists into the Civil Secretariat during the Assembly session. He said a designated parking area had also been identified for accredited media vehicles.
The Speaker assured media representatives that their suggestions and concerns would be examined in coordination with the concerned departments and that efforts would be made to ensure smooth coverage of the session.
The meeting was attended by Legislative Assembly Secretary Manoj Kumar Pandit, Information Department Secretary Munir-ul-Islam, Special Secretary Pawan Singh Rathore, Joint Director Information Kashmir Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari, Deputy Director Information (Public Relations) Javed Ahmad Rather, senior security officials and representatives of various media organisations.
