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No consensus on J&K House strength

Staff Reporter

Another meeting to be held

JAMMU: Consensus eluded the political parties of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday on the issue of increasing the strength of the 111-member Legislative Assembly. Legislators discussed the 33rd Constitution Amendment Bill aimed at increasing the House strength. The meeting assumed significance with the Government announcement that the strength would be increased by 25 per cent.

This included vacant seats reserved for the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which would be increased from 24 to 30. A delimitation commission would be formed for the exercise.

Minister for Finance, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Hameed Karra told the members that the Government wanted to hear all views before proceeding ahead as the bill had long-term political implications. Sources said it was unanimously decided that the participants would consult their party leaders before giving final opinion. However, members of the National Conference, the Panthers Party and the BJP opposed the decision for different reasons.

The NC member said an increase in the House strength would put a burden on the State exchequer. The Panthers Party and the BJP claimed that it would only increase regional disparity. It was decided that another meeting would be held to build consensus before the bill was tabled.

The first Assembly, known as Praja Sabha, consisted of 75 members, 33 of whom were elected by different communities on the basis of a franchise that did not cover more than three per cent of the population. The rest were nominated. With the transition to democracy at the time of the drafting of the State Constitution in 1956, a total of 100 seats set to be filled by direct elections from territorial constituencies. Of these, 25 seats were reserved for the areas that later came under Pakistani occupation. After the 12th Amendment of the Constitution, the figure came down to 24.

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No consensus on J&K House strength

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