Accusing the BJP govt of using J&K as a laboratory and holding new experiments every other day, the JKNPP Chairman Mr. Harsh Dev Singh took strong exception to the extension of more than 150 new as well as amended laws to J&K merely by taking recourse to sec 96 of the Re-organization Act. He said that new laws were being extended to J&K on regular basis by the Union Home Ministry even with regard to subjects which fell in the ‘State list’ by either repealing the existing laws or making amendments in respect thereof. And all these new legislative enactments were being given effect in J&K without there being any emergency and without waiting for the constitution of the new legislature of the new UT, rued Mr. Singh. He was addressing a press conference in Kathua today.
Asserting that legislation was the prerogative of the legislature, Mr. Singh said that even the Apex Court has ruled that the power of executive to legislate was required to be used sparingly and only in emergency situations when no other alternative was available. It was however being observed that numerous laws were being enacted and extended to J&K without there being any pressing necessity for the same by encroaching upon those powers which, in actual practice, were the prerogative of elected Assembly. He questioned the rationale behind enacting new legislation for imposing property tax in J&K if it was not to be levied as claimed by the Lt Governor. He questioned the justification for amending the Panchayati Raj Act without legislative endorsement which had the effect of dis-empowering the Chairmen of BDCs and Municipal bodies despite their elections having been conducted by the BJP govt itself. He questioned the repeal/amendments of 138 existing J&K laws through a single executive order issued by Union Home Ministry through S.No. 1229 (E) dated 31st March, 2019 without specifying the emergency involved. Likewise several other laws continued to be extended thereafter. What then would be the role of legislature? Earlier during the passing of the J&K Re-organization Act in August, 2019 several changes had been made to J&K laws which included extension of 106 central laws, repeal of 153 existing J&K laws besides retention of 166 J&K laws which was duly passed by the Parliament as fifth schedule to the said Re-organization Act. But enactment and extensions of several other laws enacted by executive and Babus subsequently without legislative approval and without there being any emergent situation was in complete contrast with the mandate the constitution.
Pointing towards the amendment in civil services regulations empowering the govt to make compulsory retirements of govt employees after 22 years service or upon attaining 48 years of age, Mr. Singh said that such kind of draconian provisions were unheard in any Republican Jurisprudence. Such kind of coercive measures would only demoralize the state employees besides leading to uncertainty and insecurity amongst the rank and file of govt work force. It was simply an obnoxious provision incorporated, at the behest of political masters, in service rules merely to browbeat the employees and to unleash state terror, asserted Singh.
Mr. Singh said that not only were several draconian laws imposed upon J&K without legislative authority but the people of J&K UT particularity Jammu region had been burdened with many unwarranted taxes, tolls and cesses. The people were made to pay for 4G plans despite providing them barely 2G services. The sword of property tax was made to hang over the heads of the people inhabiting the urban local bodies in view of law to the effect having been enacted. Four toll plazas had been made operational in Jammu with two others in the offing. With several taxes, duties and cesses having been imposed upon petrol and diesel, the prices of essential commodities had witnessed a steep rise. The net effect was an all round discontent and dis-illusionment with educated employed being the most severely hit due to the anti people policies of the present regime, said Mr. Singh.
Mr. Yash Paul Kundal senior NPP leader and Ex-Minister said that Panthers Party had vociferously highlighted each and every issue of the people and stood firm in its resolve to liberate the people from the undemocratic and authoritarian rule of BJP. He sought the people’s support for Jammu declaration so to ensure justice to Jammu region with dignity and honour.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Robin Sharma, Surinder Chouhan, Rajeshwar Singh, Mohinder Singh, Ajay Jamwal, Satish Sharma, Sandeep Sharma, Rajesh Kanwal besides others.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *