NC Speaker Rejects Private Members’ Bills Moved by PDP’s Waheed Para and Sajad Lone

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

SRINAGAR OCT 28:-Two significant private members’ bills — one moved by PDP MLA Waheed Para and another by People’s Conference Chairman Sajad Lone — were rejected in the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly this week, sparking political criticism and debate.

Waheed Para introduced a bill advocating recognition of proprietary rights for houses constructed on State-owned land, including Kacharia, Common, and Shamilat land. He argued that protecting the right to shelter falls within the ambit of Article 21 of the Constitution and would benefit thousands of occupants lacking legal status.

However, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah opposed the proposal, cautioning that legitimizing such structures could “open floodgates for land grab.” Citing examples, he emphasized that even his own relatives, who once had disputes over leased property, would not warrant such legislation:

> “My relatives were not illegal occupants. They had a lease which was violated by the other side. I would not bring such a bill even for my relatives. Then you bring religion and region into it.”

When Para refused to withdraw the bill, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather put it to vote. With only three members supporting it, the bill was defeated through voice vote.

A separate private member’s bill moved earlier by Sajad Lone — reportedly related to reservation provisions — also met the same fate, with the Speaker ruling it out.

CM Omar Abdullah later reiterated that granting ownership of illegally occupied government land is “neither practical nor lawful”, referring to the controversies and legal challenges surrounding the scrapped Roshni Act as a cautionary precedent.