J&K Cabinet Recommends Legislature Session in Srinagar from October 13

Srinagar,  KNT: The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet on Tuesday recommended to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha that the Union Territory’s legislature hold its next sitting in Srinagar between October 13 and 20.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the civil secretariat in Srinagar. After deliberations, ministers agreed that the week-long schedule would be the most suitable window to ensure compliance with constitutional requirements and allow lawmakers to debate issues of governance. “This schedule fits within the legal requirement that no more than six months should elapse between two sessions of the legislature. The Cabinet felt October 13 to 20 was the most suitable window,” sources privy to the meeting told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.

The recommendation now goes to the Lieutenant Governor, who under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, holds the authority to summon the legislature. If approved, this will mark the third full legislative session of the Omar Abdullah-led government since it assumed office last year.

The first session took place in November 2024, just weeks after the swearing-in of the Council of Ministers. That four-day sitting was largely introductory, with members welcoming the return of an elected government and laying out early priorities. The second session was held in Jammu during the winter, concluding on April 29 this year. In addition, a special one-day sitting of the legislature was convened in July in Srinagar, where lawmakers unanimously condemned the attack on tourists in Pahalgam.

The Reorganisation Act stipulates that “six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session,” a clause designed to ensure continuity of legislative business. By recommending mid-October for the next session, the Cabinet has sought to avoid any breach of this legal provision while giving itself an opportunity to highlight achievements and respond to public concerns before the winter session in Jammu.

Officials said the upcoming session is expected to feature discussions on key developmental and financial issues. Ministers are also preparing to table reports on housing, infrastructure, and ongoing flood relief works, which were among the administrative matters finalised during Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. “The Cabinet cleared a series of decisions related to housing and development. These measures are designed to address immediate needs while sustaining longer-term growth,” an official source confirmed.

The timing of the session carries political weight for the National Conference-led government. For Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who returned to power last year after a prolonged period of central rule in Jammu and Kashmir, the October sitting will be an opportunity to consolidate his administration’s position before the Assembly.

Lawmakers from different parties have already begun preparing agenda items for the sitting. Opposition leaders are expected to raise questions over flood management, unemployment, and road connectivity, while treasury benches plan to highlight measures taken to strengthen welfare schemes and revive horticulture and tourism. [KNT]