Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2026, paving the way for repeal of the Jammu and Kashmir Self-Reliant Cooperative Act, 1999, and providing a transitional framework for self-reliant cooperative societies under the existing cooperative law.
The Bill, moved by Minister for Cooperatives Javid Ahmad Dar, seeks amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies Act, 1989, while integrating self-reliant cooperative societies into a unified legislative framework.
The proposed legislation was discussed extensively in the House, with several legislators participating in the debate and offering suggestions and observations on various provisions of the Bill.
Among those who took part in the discussion were Nizam-ud-din Bhat, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Arjun Singh Raju and Rajiv Jasrotia.
Replying to the debate, Dar explained the objectives and rationale behind the amendments and said the government was committed to strengthening the cooperative sector through a transparent, effective and robust legal framework.
He said the legislation was aimed at streamlining the cooperative sector’s legal structure in Jammu and Kashmir and ensuring stronger and more efficient functioning of cooperative institutions.
The minister told the House that the amendments would provide greater coherence in the cooperative sector and facilitate a smooth transition of self-reliant cooperative societies into the ambit of the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies Act, 1989.
Following the discussion, the Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed by the Assembly through a voice vote.
