Consensus, Not Elections, Led to Formation of Finance Committees: JKLA Speaker | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Sunday clarified that the three major finance committees of the Legislative Assembly were constituted through mutual consensus among political parties and not through elections, as all parties, including the BJP, agreed to avoid a voting process.

The Speaker said that a formal notification for elections to the finance committees had been issued during the Budget Session, along with full details regarding nomination and polling schedules. However, he added that representatives of all political parties later unanimously agreed to constitute the panels through consensus.

Rather stated that the BJP had submitted names for all three key finance committees, and nearly all proposed members were accommodated in the final composition of the panels.

He further noted that the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), considered one of the most significant Assembly panels, was allotted to the BJP.

The clarification comes amid political criticism over the constitution of various Assembly committees. Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma had accused the Speaker of favouring the ruling National Conference and its allies while allocating chairmanships of several committees.

Responding to the allegations, Rather maintained that the process had been conducted fairly and strictly in accordance with Assembly rules and established traditions.

BJP Deputy Leader in the Assembly, Surjit Singh Slathia, also confirmed that the party leadership was asked to submit names for the finance committees. He said the names were finalised after internal consultations within the BJP, and most were accepted.

The Speaker explained that members appointed to the finance committees cannot simultaneously serve on several other House panels, which limited the scope for senior BJP legislators to head additional committees.

He added that the Speaker holds constitutional authority to nominate members and chairpersons for committees other than the three finance committees.

Rather asserted that he has always acted impartially while conducting Assembly proceedings and constituting committees, adding that his decisions have generally been appreciated across party lines.

He also pointed out that a consensus-based selection of finance committee chairpersons had been followed in the previous year as well. (KNC)