Jammu: Several legislators raised a range of public interest issues during Zero Hour in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, urging the government to take timely action on matters relating to students stranded abroad, healthcare, sports infrastructure, financial accountability and legislators’ entitlements.
MLA Reyaz Ahmad Khan urged the government to take immediate steps to facilitate the safe return of students from Jammu and Kashmir stranded in Iran. He called for coordinated efforts to ensure their well-being and early evacuation.
MLA Shabir Ahmad Kullay sought the constitution of a committee to examine discrepancies between officially claimed sports infrastructure and the facilities actually available on the ground. He said there was a need to ensure transparency and accountability in the matter.
MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia demanded prompt action on the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General, particularly regarding unspent and unaccounted funds in various government departments.
MLA Nizam-ud-din Bhat highlighted the shortage of specialist doctors at District Hospital Bandipora, especially the absence of a surgeon following a recent retirement. He urged the government to fill the vacancy to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services.
The House also witnessed a detailed discussion on legislators’ salaries, allowances and related privileges.
MLA Dr. Narinder Singh Raina advocated a structured and periodic revision of legislators’ salaries in line with the pattern followed for government employees.
MLA Javid Hassan Baig said legislators’ salaries were a legitimate entitlement and called for a rational revision in accordance with parliamentary practices, while suggesting that the matter be handled with discretion.
Supporting the demand, MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania called for an institutional mechanism to revise legislators’ emoluments. Referring to a principle articulated by former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, he said such matters should be addressed through an independent and credible framework.
MLA Sajad Gani Lone described the issue as a test of the authority of the legislature and sought a review of the reasons behind the delay in implementing the House’s recommendations.
Nizam-ud-din Bhat also linked the matter to legislators’ privileges and protocol, advocating a comprehensive and merit-based resolution.
MLA Muzaffar Iqbal Khan said the proposed increase in salaries was relatively modest, while a larger increase had been suggested in allowances to meet the growing expenditure associated with legislative responsibilities.
Reiterating his earlier concerns, Shabir Ahmad Kullay also demanded enhancement of the Constituency Development Fund allocated to legislators. He said the present allocation of Rs 4 crore annually for each constituency was inadequate to meet the developmental expectations of the public.
