Sajad Lone Questions Mehbooba Mufti’s AIIMS Review Meeting, Raises Constitutional Concerns | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference president and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone on Friday questioned PDP chief and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti for chairing a review meeting at AIIMS, describing the development as a constitutional concern and seeking clarity on the authority under which the meeting was conducted.

In a statement, Lone said the episode reflected what he termed a continuing erosion of institutional authority in Jammu and Kashmir. He criticised the administration for not responding to what he described as a challenge to the constitutional powers of the elected government.

Expressing surprise over a former chief minister presiding over a review meeting of an institution under the Union Government, Lone said constitutional powers vested in the elected government belong to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and should not be diluted or bypassed.

He questioned the legal and administrative basis for the meeting and sought clarification on whether any specific notification, government order or authorisation had been issued permitting such an arrangement.

Lone maintained that a former chief minister does not possess the constitutional authority to chair review meetings of government departments, particularly institutions functioning under the Central Government. He argued that such a development raised important constitutional and administrative questions.

Drawing comparisons with other states, he asked whether former chief ministers elsewhere in the country would be permitted to conduct similar review meetings and questioned whether a different arrangement was being followed in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Peoples Conference leader also expressed concern over what he described as the emergence of an additional power centre, suggesting that such developments could indicate increasing political and administrative interference. While acknowledging the importance of reviewing public institutions, he said Jammu and Kashmir could not afford further weakening of its institutional framework.

Lone further remarked that the issue extended beyond a routine review meeting and warranted closer scrutiny. He also referred to the presence of security personnel during the meeting and said the circumstances surrounding the event required clarification from the authorities.

There was no immediate response from Mehbooba Mufti or the concerned authorities regarding the remarks.