Sham Lal seeks action against encroachers from top to bottom
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Feb 18: Cutting across party lines, treasury benches extended their support to the main opposition MLAs Sham Lal Sharma and R S Pathania who raised the issues of legislators’ protocol and accountability of bureaucrats while participating in the discussion on Demand of Grants for the departments under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday.
Sham Lal Sharma emphasized the importance of bureaucratic accountability for ensuring transparency. He said that while the Assembly has the authority to take action against any official, it would be preferable to avoid such situations.
“You (officers) people need to be more accountable and answerable. Unlike Delhi, no member of the House has so far moved privilege motion against any officer despite facing non-cooperation from the latter,” he said.
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Alleging that some officers were overstepping their limits, Sham Lal pointed out that Constitution does not permit mentioning name of an official on the commemoration plaque. The BJP MLA’s remark invited appreciation from the treasury benches with thumping of tables
R S Pathania also stressed the need to make officials accountable, alleging that some officers were behaving in an “unrestrained” manner. He said that as elected representatives of the people, MLAs must ensure that officials-who are public servants-are held responsible.
“Whether an MLA, CM or PM, he is a public representative and any officer is a public servant,” he explained and reiterated that action should be taken against officers who fail to perform their duties.
Raising the issue of protocol, Pathania said that protocols determined by bureaucrats should not override the dignity of elected representatives and could be rejected if necessary.
The issue of Ghair Mumkin Khadd and encroachment of Government land were also raised by Sham Lal Sharma, who pointed out that 12500 kanal land under Ghair Mumkin Khadd category was changed for benefiting some influential and use of Government but the needy people were left out.
Stressing that encroachment of Government land should not be made an issue of Hindus or Muslims, the BJP MLA said that a House Committee should be formed to bring transparency in removing the encroachment.
“Let us start from top to bottom, instead of bottom to top as several influential, politicians bureaucrats and technocrats are among the encroachers,” he said.
During the discussion, a sharp exchange also took place in the Legislative Assembly when BJP MLA RS Pathania objected to the absence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from the House. Pathania pointed out that neither the Chief Minister was present in the Assembly nor were senior officials from his departments seated in the officers’ gallery, raising concerns about the seriousness accorded to the proceedings.
Responding to the objection, Mubarak Gul, who was presiding over proceeding of the House, stated that the officers were apparently busy because of huge number of Cut Motions on the demands while the CM was witnessing the House proceedings live on television. On this, Pathania quipped that if the Chief Minister could listen via television, then legislators might as well speak through television too, questioning the need for their physical presence in the House.
The Chair again clarified that the proceedings were being recorded and that the Chief Minister was engaged in important work related to cut motions.
During his speech, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah entered the House, and Pathania welcomed him in a lighter vein.
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