Bill passed for J&K's first National Law University

Salaries of HC judges hiked, Passenger Tax admin with MVD

JAMMU: The Legislative Assembly today passed a Bill for establishment of maiden National Law University in Jammu and Kashmir. The Bill was introduced in the House by the Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice, Abdul Haq.
Explaining the statement of objects and reasons of the bill, the Minister said that the proposed University once established will give a boost to the quality legal education in the State and the students will be benefited a lot.
The Minister said it has been resolved in All India Law Ministers Conference of National Law School University at Bangalore for improving quality of professional legal education. He said various States have already enacted the law for establishment of National Law University.
Devender Singh Rana, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mian Altaf Ahmad, Nawang Rigzin Jora, and Aijaz Ahmad Khan suggested for referring the Bill to Select Committee for further debate and discussion while R S Pathania and Shah Mohammad Tantray supported the Bill.
The Bill was later also passed by the Upper House also where it was moved by Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice, Abdul Haq Khan.
Meanwhile, the 37th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2018 to hike the salaries of the chief justice and judges of the high court in the state was also passed.
The salary of the chief justice has been raised from Rs 90,000 to Rs 2.50 lakh and that of the judges from Rs 80,000 to Rs 2.25 lakh.
Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice, Abdul Haq Khan, who moved the bill in the House, said Parliament has amended High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act 1954, thereby revising the salary, pension and family pension in respect of judges of high courts with effect from January 1, 2016.
"By enacting High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Condition of Service) Amendment Act, 2018, the salary of the chief justice of the J-K High Court has been enhanced from Rs 90,000 per mensem to Rs 2.50 lakh per mensem and salary of judges has been enhanced from Rs 80,000 per mensem to Rs 2.25 lakh per mensem with effect from January 1, 2016," he said
The minister said the bill seeks to enhance the salary of chief justice and judges of the high court to bring them at par with their counterparts in other states. The state constitution is proposed to be amended accordingly, he said. The Bill was later also passed by the Legislative Council.
In yet another significant development, the House also passed a Bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Passengers Taxation Act-1963.
The Bill paves the way for transfer of Passenger Tax administration from the Commercial Taxes Department to the Motor Vehicles Department. The Bill was moved in the House by the Minister for Finance, Dr Haseeb Drabu.
Explaining the statement of objects and reasons of the Bill, the Minister said that in 2011 a Committee was constituted to make recommendation on the modalities for transferring of administration of Passenger Tax from the Commercial Taxes Department to the Motor Vehicles Department. He said as per the recommendations of the Committee one Accounts Officer, 12 each of Motor Vehicle Inspector & Accounts Assistant and 9 Motor Vehicle Traffic Assistant were proposed for creation in the J&K Motor Vehicle Department.
He said that there will be reduction of 9 posts of Guards and 12 Inspectors in the Commercial Taxes Department.
Earlier the Bill was introduced in the Legislative Assembly by Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice, Abdul Haq Khan on behalf of Minister for Finance, Dr Haseeb A Drabu.
After thorough discussions, the Bill was passed through voice vote. The Bill was later also passed by the Upper House also where it was moved by Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice, Abdul Haq Khan.