“Daily-Wager Regularisation Hindered Because J&K Is a UT”: Omar Abdullah CM Says Law Secretary Can Oppose Elected Government’s Resolution; Reiterates Strong Demand for J&K Statehood

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL 

SHAFQAT WANI 

CM Says Law Secretary Can Override Elected Government Only Under UT Setup; Reiterates Strong Demand for Restoration of Statehood

SRINAGAR, SEP 28:- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday launched a strong attack on the existing Union Territory framework of Jammu and Kashmir, saying the elected government is unable to resolve the long-pending issue of daily-wager regularisation because of the limitations imposed by the UT status.

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly amid a noisy Opposition uproar, Omar Abdullah questioned the authority available to an elected government under the present arrangement and highlighted what he described as an unusual situation where the Chief Minister can move a resolution but the Law Secretary can subsequently give an opinion against it.

“You imagine, a Chief Minister of a state will move a resolution and the Law Secretary’s opinion will be against it. This is only possible in a UT,” Omar Abdullah said in the House.

He said the issue of regularisation of daily-wagers was among the matters that the government wanted to address, but the present constitutional and administrative arrangement was creating hurdles in taking a final decision.

The Chief Minister used the Assembly floor to reiterate the government’s demand for restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, arguing that an elected government should have adequate powers to take decisions on issues directly affecting the people.

“We strongly demand the return of our statehood,” Omar said, reiterating that restoration of statehood remains a key demand of his government.

His remarks came amid an uproar in the House, with the Opposition raising various issues and the Assembly witnessing heated exchanges.

The regularisation of daily-wagers remains one of the major pending demands of employees and workers across Jammu and Kashmir. Omar Abdullah’s remarks have once again brought the issue into the broader debate over the powers of the elected government under the UT arrangement.