WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution urging the Union Government to exempt teachers appointed before October 31, 2019 from the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), while the government announced approval for six free LPG cylinders annually for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families and introduced a Bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, during the third day of the Autumn Session.
The session began with question hour with discussion being held on horticulture, health and cancer.
Then calling attention to matters of urgent public importance was called by Javid Hassan Baig, Irshad Rasool Kar, Waheed Ur Rehman Para and Balwant Singh Mankotia. Calling attention was followed by introduction of bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000.” (L.A. Bill No,10 of 2026) already published in an extraordinary issue of the Official Gazette by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Then the discussion was held on Resolution already moved by the Hon’ble Minister for School Education on 22nd of September, 2026 in the House.
After discussion, The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today passed by voice vote a Resolution moved by Minister for School Education, Sakeena Itoo, seeking exemption of teachers appointed before October 31, 2019 from appearing in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).
The Resolution was passed after a two-day debate during which members deliberated upon various aspects of the issue and highlighted the concerns of teachers appointed prior to the cut-off date.
The Resolution states: “This House unanimously urges the Union Government to make necessary statutory amendment to Section 23 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, to exempt all teachers appointed before October 31, 2019 from appearing in the TET.”
It further urges the Union Government to take all necessary legal steps and issue the requisite notification through the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) for granting exemption from the TET requirement.
Sakeena Itoo thanked all the legislators for expressing their concerns and for coming together to unanimously support the Resolution. She said that the Resolution was being moved in the House with the intention of addressing the concerns of teachers who have been serving the education sector for years.
She said that the issue should not be viewed merely from the perspective of whether teachers can pass another examination, as many of them have already appeared in and cleared various tests during their careers. “These teachers have made immense sacrifices, devoted their time and energy and worked tirelessly to prepare our students for various professions, including doctors and engineers, while helping secure their future. The credit for their achievements goes to their teachers,” she said.
The Minister emphasised that the contribution and years of service of these teachers need to be duly recognised while considering the matter.
On the first day of the debate, legislators Balwant Singh Mankotia, Ranbir Singh Pathania, Waheed Ur Rehman Para and Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh participated in the discussion and expressed their views on various aspects of the Resolution.
The debate continued today, with legislators Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah, Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi), Dr. Bashir Ahmad Shah (Veeri) also participating in the discussion and putting forth their views on the issue.
Following the detailed two-day discussion, the House passed the Resolution by voice vote.
In between all, this Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Satish Sharma announced the approval today on the floor of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly during the ongoing Autumn Session.
“I want to inform this august House that the six free gas cylinder policy for AAY has got approval from the competent authority. Necessary orders for rolling out the scheme are being issued shortly,” the Minister informed the House, drawing applause from the members.
Soon after the announcement, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the initiative would provide direct relief to the most deserving households and strengthen the government’s commitment to public welfare.
“This key initiative aims to extend direct relief to the most deserving households, ensuring a dignified life for vulnerable sections and reinforcing the government’s commitment to social justice and public welfare,” the Chief Minister said.
The initiative was announced by the Chief Minister while presenting his second Budget as Finance Minister in February this year, wherein he had proposed six free LPG cylinders annually for AAY households across Jammu and Kashmir.
The provision will extend direct assistance to AAY families across Jammu and Kashmir, helping ease their household expenditure on cooking fuel and providing additional support to economically vulnerable households.
However, this did not go well with the opposition with BJP legislators questioned the government over the scope and implementation of the scheme.
Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Sunil Sharma, on Thursday attacked the government over its announcement regarding free LPG cylinders, alleging that the promise of providing 12 free cylinders to every household had been reduced to six.
Protesting inside the Assembly, Sharma said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had been promised 12 free LPG cylinders, but ministers were now speaking about providing only six.
“Every person and every household in Jammu and Kashmir was promised 12 free gas cylinders. Today, your ministers are talking about six cylinders,” Sharma said.
He accused the government of betraying the people over promises related to LPG cylinders, electricity and ration, and questioned how the government intended to justify the change.
“Why are you talking about six cylinders today? Give an account of the 24 cylinders,” Sharma said, referring to the annual requirement of 12 cylinders under the original promise.
Sharma also alleged that the government had failed to fulfil its election commitments and repeatedly questioned the basis for the revised LPG announcement.
After that a private members’ bill was introduced. MLA Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad moved a bill to introduce” A Bill to make it obligatory for the Public Men and Public Servants to educate their children in Government educatignal institutions and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
However, the assembly rejects Private Members’ Bill on compulsory govt schooling for children of public servants. Minister for School Education, Sakeena Itoo, while opposing the Bill, said that the government was already taking several steps to increase enrolment in government schools, where capable and hardworking teachers were serving. She said that meetings had also been held in this regard and emphasised that such a measure could not be enforced through compulsion.
The Minister also said that legislation alone would not address the issue and emphasised that improving enrolment and strengthening government schools requires a collective effort and shared responsibility.
She urged the MLA Sheikh Khursheed to withdraw the Bill. However, he declined to withdraw the Bill. Subsequently, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather put the Bill to vote and it was defeated by voice vote.
The assembly was adjourned thereafter.
