The newly elected government headed by Omar Abdullah will complete 50 days in office this week, but the Ministry of Home Affairs is yet to finalize the 'Business Rules'.
The ‘Business Rules’ had become mandatory as Jammu and Kashmir switched over from the State to the Union Territory after over six years of Central rule.
Highly placed sources in the civil secretariat revealed the ball is in the court of the Union Home Ministry as the Union Territory administration has already submitted the draft of the Business Rules after holding several rounds of consultations with the different stakeholders. The UT administration is eagerly awaiting the formal nod of the Union Home Ministry in this regard. Omar Abdullah, who was away on a pilgrimage, is expected to take up the matter with the Union Home Ministry soon to expedite the formalization of the Business Rules.
The UT administration has to set into motion the preparations for the much-awaited budget session of the Assembly and kickstart the discussions on the draft budget proposals.
In the absence of these 'Business Rules' several important issues that need immediate attention of the popular government have been kept in abeyance.
These rules will appropriately define the powers of the office of Chief Minister, members of the council of ministers, administrative secretaries, and others at the helm of affairs under the new dispensation.
The members of the Council of Ministers in their public utterances have been repeatedly giving assurances to the common masses and different stakeholders but in reality, they are themselves at the receiving end in the absence of Business Rules.
Interestingly, the political opponents have also started targeting the ruling dispensation as several major decisions are pending for want of clarity on the business rules.
Previously, the Union Home Ministry had clearly defined the powers of the Lieutenant Governor and also amended the Business Rules before the formation of the popular government.
Similarly, the Business Rules of the J&K Legislative Assembly are yet to be framed.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather is expected to head the Committee to frame the Rules for the House. There has been a provision in the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act that the Assembly can run as per the rules existing in erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir till new rules are framed.