All eyes on NC MLA’s private member bill on lease extension

Jammu : Even as 33 proposed legislations have been listed for introduction on the first of the two days reserved for private member bills in the Legislative Assembly on Monday, all eyes are on the National Conference-led Government’s stance regarding its legislator Tanvir Sadiq’s bill seeking the extension of leases to current occupants.

As per news agency, the bill has been placed at serial number 12 among the private member bills scheduled for today.

While other private member bills are expected to be either opposed by the Government or withdrawn by the members in-charge, the Government’s position on Tanvir Sadiq’s bill will be watched closely, particularly in light of the expiry of leases held by hoteliers in Gulmarg.

The bill has been submitted to undo the impact of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Rules, 2022.

The rules unveiled by the LG-led administration in 2022 stipulate that all leases—except subsisting or expired residential leases, including those granted under the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Rules, 1960, the Notified Area (All Development Authorities in the tourism sector) Land Grant Rules, 2007, or leases expired or determined prior to the commencement of these rules, or issued under these rules—shall not be renewed and shall stand determined.

Such leases, the rules state, shall be put to auction afresh. It is worthwhile to mention that private member bills generally do not pass in the House.

The power of legislation lies with the Government, and bills submitted by opposition MLAs are submitted to highlight issues rather than to secure passage—(KNO)