Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly’s Budget Session, scheduled for March 2025, will not allow questions related to police, law and order, or security issues.
Legislators can raise only those matters which fall under the jurisdiction of the provincial government.
The session will focus on the annual budget for the fiscal year 2025-26, but discussions on police and law enforcement matters will not be permitted unless authorized by the Speaker under special circumstances.
The ruling party and opposition members are preparing to raise important issues, but the government’s stance on keeping police and security-related discussions out of the session has drawn criticism.
The opposition parties have accused the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration of limiting discussions on crucial topics, especially law and order, which are of significant concern to the public.
The first Budget Session is set to take place after Jammu and Kashmir’s reorganization in October 2019, following the bifurcation into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Although the exact date for the session has not been confirmed, the state government recently proposed the March timeline.
While some parties have voiced concerns over the timing of the session, as it coincides with the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, others argue that this is a necessary step towards the region’s governance.
Constitutional experts emphasize that, as a Union Territory, the security and law enforcement aspects are under the Centre’s control, which reduces political interference in local police operations. However, opposition leaders argue that the government’s refusal to allow discussions on these vital issues constitutes an injustice to the electorate, especially considering the ongoing security challenges.
