J&K Assembly rejects Bills on Illegal Constructions and Lokayukta

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Tuesday turned down two private members bills that were brought for discussion.

 

 

The first bill was moved by PDP MLA Waheed Para. Through this bill, he wanted the government to give proprietary rights to people who have built houses illegally on government land. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah rejected the idea and said that if such a proposal is accepted, it would “open the floodgates for land grabbing.” He told the House that the government cannot allow illegal constructions to turn into legal property like this.

 

 

In another move, CPI(M) MLA M.Y. Tarigami presented a bill seeking the establishment of a Lokayukta in Jammu and Kashmir to check corruption among public servants. Responding to this, the Chief Minister said that only states can set up a Lokayukta and Jammu and Kashmir, being a Union Territory, does not have that power.

 

 

However, the chief minister informed the House that Section 63 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, provides for the anti-corruption agency in every state.